Good morning, good afternoon, good evening.
The pandemic is accelerating.
More than 150 thousand new cases of COVID-19 were reported to WHO yesterday – the most in a single day so far.
Almost half of those cases were reported from the Americas, with large numbers also being reported from South Asia and the Middle East.
The world is in a new and dangerous phase. Many people are understandably fed up with being at home. Countries are understandably eager to open up their societies and economies.
But the virus is still spreading fast, it’s still deadly, and most people are still susceptible.
We call on all countries and all people to exercise extreme vigilance.
Continue maintaining your distance from others. Stay home if you feel sick. Keep covering your nose and mouth when you cough. Wear a mask when appropriate. Keep cleaning your hands.
We continue to call on all countries to focus on the basics: find, isolate, test and care for every case. Trace and quarantine every contact.
As the pandemic gathers pace, it’s the most vulnerable who will suffer the most.
All countries rich and poor have populations who are vulnerable to a higher risk of severe disease and death.
Tomorrow is World Refugee Day – an important moment to highlight the risks of COVID-19 for some of the world’s most vulnerable people.
Refugees are particularly at risk of COVID-19 because they often have limited access to adequate shelter, water, nutrition, sanitation, and health services.
Over 80 per cent of the world’s refugees and nearly all the world’s internally displaced people are hosted in low- and middle-income countries.
WHO is deeply concerned about the very real and present danger of widespread transmission of COVID-19 in refugee camps.
Beyond the health threat posed by the virus, COVID-19 is also exposing many refugees to even more severe hardship.
A report published today by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement shows that about 70 percent of refugees surveyed in Turkey reported having lost their jobs since the start of the pandemic.
We have a shared duty to do everything we can to prevent, detect and respond to transmission of COVID-19 among refugee populations.
Public health measures that reduce transmission of COVID-19 require strict and sustained implementation. This is difficult to achieve in refugee camps, where the public health situation is weak.
It’s an honour to be here today with my brother Mr Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
UNHCR’s primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees.
WHO’s mission is to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.
Our organizations are a natural fit and every day WHO and UNHCR work to strengthen the collaboration between our two agencies.
Last month, our two organizations signed a new agreement to strengthen and advance public health services for the millions of forcibly displaced people around the world.
COVID-19 has demonstrated that no one is safe until we’re all safe. Only by putting politics aside and working in true collaboration can we make a difference.
We are most vulnerable when we are divided, but with solidarity and cooperation, we will overcome this pandemic, and be better prepared for the crises of the future.
It’s now my great honour to invite the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Filippo Grandi, to say a few words.
Mr Grandi, the floor is yours.
[Mr Grandi speaks]
Thank you, Mr Grandi.
Today we are also honoured to be joined online by two WHO colleagues who are working with refugees.
First, I would like to introduce Dr Iman Shankiti, WHO’s representative in Lebanon.
Lebanon is a country of 6 million people, of which 1.5 million are refugees, mainly Syrian and Palestinian. There are also more than half a million migrant workers. Dr Iman is currently leading the overall response to COVID-19 in Lebanon.
Dr Iman, you have the floor.
[Dr Iman spoke]
Thank you, Dr Iman.
Now I would like to invite Mr Chuol Puok Jock. Mr Jock is currently leading the COVID-19 response in the Gambella region in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia hosts more than 700 000 refugees in 8 different regions. More than 40% of the refugee population is hosted in 7 camps in the Gambella region.
Mr Jock, you have the floor.
[Mr Jock spoke]
WHO Regional information:
EMRO
Yemen: Public and private sectors join forces to deliver lifesaving COVID-19 supplies in Yemen
19 June 2020
EURO
Photo story: World Refugee Day – refugees contribute to efforts against COVID-19
20 June 2020
World Refugee Day 2020: united to stop COVID-19
20 June 2020
Refugee nurse Ahmed Ahmed: working together to prevent COVID-19 infections in Turkey
19 June 2020
Stories of hope as refugees help tackle the COVID-19 pandemic
19 June 2020
AFRO
Chad: Reaching communities in Chad with COVID-19 safety messages
18 June 2020
https://www.afro.who.int/news/reaching-communities-chad-covid-19-safety-messages
South Sudan: South Sudan strengthens reporting of deaths due to COVID-19
18 June 2020
PAHO/AMRO
Brazil requests to strengthen borders in the fight against COVID-19
19 June 2020
https://www.paho.org/es/noticias/19-6-2020-brasil-pide-reforzar-fronteras-lucha-contra-covid-19
MERCOSUR calls to support initiatives in the context COVID19
18 June 2020
UNHCR useful links:
Global Trends Report on Forced Displacement
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, released on 18 June its annual Global Trends Report on Forced Displacement (https://www.unhcr.org/unhcr-global-trends-2019-media.html). The report shows that 79.5 million people were forcibly displaced at the end of 2019. That is 1 per cent of humanity or 1 in every 97 people on earth. Some 11 million people were newly displaced in the course of last year – fleeing wars, violence or persecution. Overwhelmingly it is low- and middle-income countries that are most affected.
This morning, on the eve of the World Refugee Day (20 June), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has issued this statement: https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2020/6/5eeb289c4/high-commissioners-2020-world-refugee-day-message.html
Additional resources:
- Refugee and Migrant Health
- WHO and UNHCR join forces to improve health services for refugees, displaced and stateless people
- How WHO is supporting refugees and migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Enhancing Access to Services for Migrants in the Context of COVID-19 Preparedness, Prevention, and Response and Beyond
