Promoting the health of refugees and migrants during COVID-19 pandemic
COVID-19 has emphasized clearly the interconnected nature of health experience and public health protection. Protecting national health system from possible public health threats requires policies and services that include and reflect the needs of refugees and migrants.
With the aim to draw attention to the heightened vulnerabilities of refugees and migrants during the pandemic and promote their right to health, WHO launched the ApartTogether survey, a first inquiry into the social impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic on refugees and migrants globally, as experienced and reported by the over 30 000 respondents in 170 countries, originating from 159 countries and territories that participated in the survey.
Furthermore, in June 2021, WHO launched “Refugees and migrants in times of COVID-19: mapping trends of public health and migration policies and practices”, the first report of the Global Evidence Review on Health and Migration (GEHM) series. The report highlights how many refugee- and migrant-sensitive policies have coexisted with discriminatory practices during the COVID-19 pandemic that compromise the rights of refugees and migrants and illustrates a significant range of practices in line with international conventions protecting the rights of refugee and migrants.
