REFUGEES AND COVID-19

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, refugee populations are at a significant risk, living in overcrowded settlements without proper sanitation or access to emergency medical treatment. Displaced families live in tents often with other families and cannot social distance or quarantine even if they wanted to.

These photos were taken from refugee camps in places like Syria where there are currently no quarantine or isolation units. Additionally, refugee camps have limited access to disinfectants (bleach), little to no test kits, no Personal Protective Equipment, and even limited access to clean water. At this time, the UNHCR strives to deliver the proper supplies to these populations, construct wells to bring clean water to the camps, and provide primary healthcare services to each person.

Women and young girls are scared to walk frequently to hand-washing stations, separate from the camps because they are afraid of getting harassed in the camp. Collectively, this is the very real mental picture we should see when the words “pandemic” and “displaced people” come to mind.