Building Back Better Together For Everyone: Refugees, Asylum Seekers And The Stateless

Building Back Better Together For Everyone: Refugees, Asylum Seekers And The Stateless Amidst The Covid-19 Pandemic

Harshita Ranjan, Amity Law School, Amity University, Patna

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges for refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless people who are already vulnerable due to their displacement. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of protecting and safeguarding vulnerable groups, including refugees, who often live in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with limited access to healthcare, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. Refugees face a greater risk of getting infected with the virus due to poor living conditions, lack of access to clean water, and poor hygiene practices. Additionally, the lengthy asylum-seeking process and poor socio-economic conditions, such as unemployment and isolation, can cause depression and anxiety among refugees. Lack of proper documents and network facilities also makes them vulnerable to fake news and misinformation, which can exacerbate the situation. During health crises, refugees have faced discrimination and stigmatization, which has further increased their vulnerability. For instance, during the Ebola outbreak in Africa, some countries restricted the entry of people from affected countries without justification and prevented the arrival of medical facilities. Similarly, during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Haitians were blamed for the origin of the virus, and the immigration of people living with HIV/AIDS was banned by the U.S. government. The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to the mass evacuation of refugees seeking better healthcare facilities, which has created a sense of fear and terror among them. In refugee camps, overpopulation and lack of medical provisions make it difficult to maintain effective responses to the pandemic, such as testing, social distancing, and quarantine. Additionally, economic instability caused by the pandemic can further exacerbate the financial struggles faced by refugees. In conclusion, it is essential to protect and safeguard refugees, asylum seekers, and stateless people, especially during health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Governments and international organizations must ensure that they have access to basic necessities such as clean water, sanitation, and healthcare facilities. They should also take steps to prevent discrimination and stigmatization against vulnerable groups and provide accurate information to combat misinformation.