UNHCR’s global approach to COVID-19: Saving lives and preventing spread

UNHCR has issued a global emergency appeal for urgent funding to provide life-saving interventions to protect refugees and displaced people from COVID-19, including: procuring hygiene items, medical supplies and personal protective equipment; establishing emergency shelter and other quarantine arrangements; upgrading WASH and health services; and adapting protection and assistance programmes to the changing circumstances.

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Hong Kong

Ensuring refugees can access information, medical assistance and essential anti-epidemic items; working with local partners and NGOs, such as MIND HK to provide multi-languages mental health tips, and International Social Service to mitigate COVID-19-related challenges.

Syria

Scaling up WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene) services and promotion, training response and health teams in case definitions, isolation procedures, and referral mechanisms for suspect cases.

 

Bangladesh

Carried out infection prevention and control trainings for 280 health staff serving the Rohingya camps.

 

Greece

Scaling up local WASH services in crowded refugee-hosting areas across the Aegean islands.

 

Iran

Airlifted 4.4 tons of medical aid, including face masks, gloves and essential medicines.

 

 

About UNHCR:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established on 14 December 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee issues. It strives to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state, with the option to voluntarily return home when conditions are conducive for return, integrate locally or resettle to a third country. UNHCR has twice won the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1954 for its ground-breaking work in helping the refugees of Europe, and in 1981 for its worldwide assistance to refugees.