In light of COVID-19, the last few weeks have seen the world plunge into a state of chaos. International borders have been shut, households have been put on lockdown, and economies all over the world are suffering. Hundreds of thousands of people have reportedly been infected by the virus globally. While social distancing and incessant hand washing are just two of the norms that have been widely adopted, the reality is that such practices aimed at warding off the virus are not accessible to everyone around the world.
For refugees, the concept of staying at home is simply not an option. You cannot stay at home if you do not have a home.
CAMP CONDITIONS: A VIRUS HAVEN
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, recent years of political instability and conflict across the globe have forced 41.3 million people out of their homes and almost 26 million to flee their countries in search for safety. The exodus that has emerged represents the largest migration crisis since World War II. Nearly 80% of refugees live in camps in countries neighbouring their countries of origin. One example of refugees at risk are Syrian refugees, many of whom find themselves displaced between Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and Syria itself. What is most disturbing, however, is that their escape from physical conflict in pursuit of safety and security, does not always lead to this.
Several health and other officials in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria have raised concerns over the governments’ transparency and disclosure of the number of coronavirus cases - a challenge that poses direct health risk to all populations in the area. Coupled with the unideal conditions of the refugee camps in these countries highlights the imminent danger faced by the refugee communities. Overcrowding, scarcity of clean water, and lack of access to medical care forces the refugee camps to become virus havens.
CORONAVIRUS MAY NOT PLAY POLITICS, BUT GOVERNMENTS MIGHT
What is most salient since the outbreak of COVID-19 is that the virus does not discriminate. While many countries have implemented pandemic protection plans, it is unclear whether such plans apply to refugee communities. Combining this with the weak state structures of Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, refugees are not only vulnerable to the calamitous health risks of the virus, but also to a violation of their political rights. This is due to a growing concern that authorities may disturbingly ‘seize the opportunity’ to implement draconian measures to keep asylum seekers out, or more generally to deny them their fundamental rights.
In Lebanon, for example, the Lebanese Forces leader Samir Gaegea, has called for refugees to be prevented from leaving their camps, regardless of the circumstances - a policy which has not been applied to the rest of the country. Despite such a lockdown not being officially implemented, many refugees have reported being threatened with deportation should they leave the camps. It is important to be clear that the concern here does not necessarily lie within limiting movement, a recently widely deployed prevention tactic. The concern here emerges when different standards are applied to different groups within societies.
Acknowledging the merits of prevention strategies is important. It is just as important, however, to acknowledge that being a refugee does not reduce the political rights you are entitled to. In gearing their efforts towards limiting the possible outcomes of the virus in refugee populations, it is important that governments do not view this distressing situation as an opportunity to undermine the rights of an already vulnerable population in society.
LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES: WHAT NEXT?
Combining the lack of awareness of the sheer seriousness of the crisis amongst the refugee population, the physical difficulties of implementing prevention strategies and the lack of clear policies of those who are directly responsible for the fate of refugee communities leads us to a very potent question: what happens to refugees who are left to their own devices to ward off the coronavirus?
While some aspects of prevention such as social distancing remain inaccessible to refugee populations, there are other measures that can and should be taken in order to grant refugees the protection that others are being granted worldwide. Consequently, Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN, has issued an appeal for $2 billion in order to expand health services amongst refugees, improve conditions in camps, increase testing in camps, and also increase educations amongst communities.
Increasing the levels of awareness about the gravity of the coronavirus crisis amongst refugee communities is of utmost importance. For many who are suffering from the very real and daily threats of poverty or conflict, the coronavirus is simply not considered to be a significant worry. For this reason, internalising the seriousness of this virus amongst such communities remains paramount.
Aziz Asmar, a Syrian Artist in Idlib, Syria, attempts to educate the communities in the war-torn region through paintings and murals on the wall. Whether it is to tell them to wash their hands or to avoid large gatherings, the colourful cartoons represent just one way of trying to get the message across. It is unclear whether such methods will be effective. What is clear, however, is that in a time of global crisis, all efforts to help protect the refugee populations should be welcomed. It may take a great deal of political will and commitment—but no country can afford to leave its most vulnerable behind.
Sarah is a second year undergraduate student studying BSc Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University College London. She has a keen interest in human rights - with a particular interest in Middle Eastern Affairs due to her Syrian origins.