While all human beings are currently threatened by COVID-19, it is true to say that there is more vulnerability in certain populations. How can those who do not have food or a safe place to live stay at home in safety? Being able to comply with the quarantine and working from home is a privilege that not everyone has.
A large number of migrants around the world are in a position of risk, both because of increased exposure to the coronavirus and because of factors related to health, economics and access to government assistance. Each migrating population has its own reality and needs, some can be faced in these moments of uncertainty and other scenarios are more worrying.
Refugees represent one of the populations most at risk, due to the conditions in the camps, where access to water can be restricted and people must live together in tents that have little space. For example, in Moria camp in Greece, it is difficult to comply with recommendations for social distancing because of the number of people living there on a daily basis.
Even for those who are not refugees, quarantines represent the paralysis of a significant part of the commercial sectors, and this situation puts the daily income of many citizens at risk. Depending on the measures in each country, numerous businesses must remain closed, and this leads to some people losing their jobs or receiving lower percentages that are not sufficient for their monthly expenses.
Immigrants frequently take jobs in the informal economy, but sales decrease considerably with more restrictive measures. Unable to generate profits, some business owners have put flexible policies in place to help, but others have decided to evict those who fall behind in their rent payments from residences and apartments.
On social networks, the number of complaints from people left on the streets has increased. In Peru, for example, some Venezuelans have reported cases of forced evictions, with the fear of having no other place to go. In contrast, others are trying to assist in any way they can, such as a hotel in Spain that opened its doors to immigrants who had no other place to spend the quarantine.
In different places around the world, a large number of people are trying to return home. From stranded tourists to migrants who have been destabilized by the situation. Closed borders are a concern for those who want to go home, with debates between waiting and finding the means to return.
The border between Colombia and Venezuela was closed in March, thereafter the authorities took steps to allow a limited number of people to pass through each day. Among the more than 5 million Venezuelans who have emigrated in recent times because of the serious social, political and economic situation in the South American country, some thousands have decided to return since the pandemic began affecting neighboring countries like Colombia and Peru.
With no money in their pockets and with the suspension of public transport due to COVID-19, Venezuelans who try to return do so on foot. History repeats itself in reverse. In the past, many people left Venezuela walking with a small bag, on a journey of days to get from Cucuta to Bogota, or even to other more distant countries. But the situation has changed and without the ability to work, they must return despite the fear caused by the country’s internal problems.
India is in a similar situation, but with internal mobility, where workers in large cities were forced to walk home thousands of miles when their jobs were put on hold because of the coronavirus. The journeys are tolerated with inappropriate shoes and little food in their stomachs.
In India, a significant number of people leave their villages in order to ensure a better future for themselves. These workers have informal jobs and send almost everything they earn to their families. Living from day to day, the announcement of confinement forced them to make the decision to leave the residences they could not afford and return to the family home.
The situation is not promising for populations at risk in different parts of the world. Some governments have attempted to take measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, for example, at the border of Colombia and Venezuela, testing is being carried out to detect those infected.
These measures can help prevent further spread of the virus but, in some cases, it is not easy to detect the virus conclusively and this can result in the entry of infected persons. Despite the risks, it is important to support those in need at this time, hoping that precautions are sufficient to avoid the possibility of further infection.
Image credit: Bruno / Germany