2021-03-10 04:11:54 GMT2021-03-10 12:11:54(Beijing Time) Xinhua English
GENEVA, March 9 (Xinhua) A global humanitarian organization warned that an invisible wall has blocked migrants from access to basic services since the COVID-19 pandemic started and is preventing them from accessing vaccines.
While lockdowns and other measures were designed to control the spread of the coronavirus, they also inadvertently increased suffering among migrants, said the Geneva-based International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in a new report on Tuesday.
Because of the restrictions, many migrants have lost their jobs and livelihoods, and were subsequently unable to meet their most basic needs, leading to worrying levels of food insecurity and homelessness due to their inability to pay rent and worsening mental health conditions, it said.
A new report released today documents an “invisible wall” which has blocked migrants from accessing basic services since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is now preventing them from accessing vaccines.
Locked down and left out? Why access to basic services for migrants is critical to our COVID-19 response and recovery
Format
New report: Migrants hit an “invisible wall” in accessing COVID-19 care and vaccines
Geneva, 9 March 2021 – A new report released today documents an “invisible wall” which has blocked migrants from accessing basic services since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is now preventing them from accessing vaccines.
The report –
Locked down and left out? Why access to basic services for migrants is critical to our COVID-19 response and recovery – draws on research carried out across all regions by the newly established Red Cross Red Crescent Global Migration Lab, hosted by Australian Red Cross and supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).