In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, a phenomenon that has affected all of our daily lives, migrants are facing further challenges. In efforts to flatten the curve, migrants are at risk of ending up in even more dangerous situations. Travels bans and other restrictions will place many migrants in living situations that are far from the conditions recommended by health experts, wherein social distancing is simply not possible.

MIGRANTS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY THE VIRUS

One of the biggest threats to migrants during this pandemic is the lack of access to healthcare and information regarding the virus. Across Europe, multiple local authorities and organisations are working to ensure the spread of information to migrants who may not have access to the internet or information in their language. SIU – Cooperative Organisation for Immigrant Unions in Uppsala, is an organisation that has arranged WhatsApp groups in order to spread information about Covid-19 in 15 different languages. Amnesty International Sweden is also carrying out a project called ‘Också Människa’ (Also Human) in which they are lobbying the Swedish healthcare system to ensure subsidised testing and caring for vulnerable EU-citizens, despite lacking a European health insurance card.

During the lockdowns taking place across the globe as a result of the coronavirus, it is crucial that policy responses take migrants’ situations into consideration. If not, the risk of mass-infection is more than a possibility. The poor living conditions for many migrants around the world result in a disproportionate impact of the virus on these communities. Now, more than ever, we have to ensure that every person's right to health is secured. Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and previous President of Chile, urged countries to open their borders for their own nationals in order to live up to the state obligation to protect one’s citizens. This is paramount when the reality is that right now, thousands of migrants are stuck on borders with little food and water, forced to take shelter in crowded circumstances.

CROWDED LIVING CONDITIONS AND LACK OF MEDICAL ATTENTION IS A RECIPE FOR DISASTER

Detention centres and migrant camps are potential hubs for contagion, especially when it comes to airborne diseases such as the coronavirus.  Migrants living in a centre in Bologna, Italy have written a letter to Italian officials, urging them to improve their living conditions. The migrants are reportedly living in small rooms with 5 to 10 persons in each room. The changes they call for in the letter are imperative in reducing the risk for the increased spread of Covid-19.

In Mexico, a judge has ruled that the Mexican government needs to release migrants detained in migrant centres who belong to high-risk groups and arrange accommodation for these persons in order to avoid infection and to ensure their human rights are protected. Despite there being no reported cases of Covid-19 within detained migrants in Mexico, many have died from lack of medical attention as well as violent protests. More rulings like this are necessary because of the nature of these centres, especially with regards to the lack of sanitary controls and medical attention.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the World Health Organisation released a guide in March 2020 where they outline measures that states should follow in order to ensure the safety and rights of persons who are deprived of their liberty. They urged states to do regular assessments of their detention centres and immediately deal with overcrowding and prioritise “non-custodial, community-based alternatives to detention for all migrants, taking a human rights-based approach”.  These recommendations are central to ensure states meet their international human rights obligations, migrants’ right to health, and the prohibition of torture.

Sam is a Masters student in human rights at Uppsala University in Sweden. He focuses on migration and international law. He is also an activist working with Amnesty International Sweden to make changes to policy in line with the human rights framework.

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