Migrants in East Africa more vulnerable to COVID-19: UN

KIGALI, Rwanda

Amid rising coronavirus cases, the UN migration agency Wednesday warned that migrants, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), in East and Horn of Africa region are more vulnerable to COVID-19.

In its periodic situation update, the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) cited poor and makeshift conditions, overcrowded settings and a lack of access to medical care and hygiene among the conditions which expose migrants and IDPs to infections.

“Migrants are experiencing detention and abuse in some countries, and facing stigma and xenophobia, resulting from being blamed for the spread of the disease,” it said.

“Thousands of migrants continue to be stranded across the East and Horn of Africa due to COVID-19 movement and mobility restrictions, including quarantine rules.”

Currently, there are about 6.3 million IDPs in the region, according to IOM.

Noting that it is working with governments across the region to respond to the impact of COVID-19 in the areas of protection, disease surveillance, infection control and camp coordination, IOM underlined the need for food, water, medical assistance and transport for many migrants.

Last April, an appeal for $71.6 million funding was launched to assist migrant groups in the region, of which about 72% has been raised so far, according to IOM.

As of Wednesday, the Eastern Africa region reported some 346,757 COVID-19 cases and 6,546 deaths, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.