COVID-19 and SDG 3:An Analysis of Refugee Camps and Detention Centers
In his recent speech, the UN Secretary-General stressed that “No country can fight the pandemic or manage migration alone. But together, we can contain the spread of the virus, buffer its impact on the most vulnerable and recover better for the benefit of all” (1). Since the first outbreak in late 2019, the effects of the COVID-19 have been widespread and extremely detrimental, especially in refugee camps. According to the UNHCR, refugees make up more than 25.9 million people globally and are currently facing both a health crisis and a socio-economic crisis (2). Without access to the resources necessary to maintain personal hygiene, the camps have struggled to contain the spread of COVID-19. Of additional concern is the high population density of the camps, which makes implementing social distancing measures nearly impossible. In the United States, multiple other issues have arisen in the detention centers along the Southern border where testing is inadequate, and responses to positive cases are either delayed or too extreme. This article will analyze the different ways in which COVID-19 is affecting refugee camps and detention centers throughout the world in order to gain a better understanding of the magnitude of the response that is necessary to ensure the United Nation’s third Sustainable Development Goal: Good Health and Wellbeing.
Greek Migrant Crisis
Greece’s migrant crisis, an already dire situation, has only been heightened with the onset of COVID-19. Moria, Greece’s most populated refugee camp on the island of Lesbos, currently holds over seven times its capacity, with close to 120,000 refugees harbored in overcrowded and under-resourced camps (3). While Greece has lifted strict movement restrictions for citizens of Athens, the country has kept its camps in lockdown despite aid and humanitarian organizations warning that social distancing measures and basic hygiene are nearly impossible to ensure in Moria’s conditions. After more than 7,000 tests were administered in late September, the number of positive tests has surpassed 300 as of early October- estimates report that while half of the country’s cases are in Athens, the other half is predominantly made up of migrants and refugees (4). Those who have tested positive for the virus are placed in quarantine in a separate part of the camp. However, water pumps, tents, and toilets are all shared facilities amongst those who tested negative, only continuing to congest the camps and place residents at high risk of infection (5). The conditions in Greece and Moria make SDG 3 increasingly difficult to achieve as refugees struggle to maintain personal hygiene and a reasonable standard of living in overly dense, underfunded, and cramped camps.
Burma and Bangladesh
More than 860,000 Rohingya refugees occupy Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, one of the largest and most densely populated camps in the world. The population density is approximately 40,000 people per square kilometer, which translates to extremely cramped living conditions. Contextually this is close to the population density of New York City, which is 38,242 people per square kilometer. The risk of the virus is multiplied with the local spread of COVID-19 potentially expanding to the camp and the lack of adequate healthcare infrastructure. The sharing of sanitary facilities and overall unhygienic living conditions in the camp has further increased the risk of spreading the virus (6). The harsh reality of this crisis is that the preventive measures for COVID-19 need to be long term and sustainable. The Bangladesh government had enforced a lockdown in the district of Cox’s Bazar and implemented strict guidelines in which individuals were forbidden to leave and enter. Humanitarian workers were stopped from entering and leaving the camps to prevent the spread of the virus (7). As a result, over 1400 Rohingya Refugees were trained about the virus, attempting to bridge the gap between health facilities and the refugee camp. These volunteers have played a crucial role in educating the camp, convincing refugees to get tested, and preventing the spread of the disease (8).
Jordan Middle East Zaatari Camps
Jordan is the second largest refugee host in the Middle East, housing millions of migrants from neighboring countries at war. This has caused a strain on Jordans’ infrastructure and housing situation and has heavily impacted the quality of life for Arabs. Zaatari camp is the largest camp in Jordan, located at the northern border near Syria, and houses more than 76,000 refugees. The Médecins Sans Frontières Head of Mission in Jordan, Gemma Dominguez, states that “in a densely populated refugee camp, due to overcrowding and lack of resources it can be very difficult for people to follow simple preventive measures such as handwashing, wearing a mask and physical distancing.” Zaatari has been facing difficulties adapting to social distancing measures. The camp administration to enforce restrictions to limit the spread of the virus by timing stricter curfews and strictly restricting movement. The pandemic has caused immense disruption for those seeking out a livelihood in already difficult living circumstances dealing with housing displacement due to political turmoil. (9)
U.S. Immigration Detention Centers
At any given time, ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) holds tens of thousands of detainees awaiting immigration proceedings or deportation(10). These detention centers in the United States have failed to adapt to the circumstances brought on by COVID-19. There is a continuous fail to test individuals who present symptoms as well as to isolate individuals with classic signs and symptoms of COVID-19 who have tested negative. Additionally, these detention centers fail to release individuals at risk of contracting COVID-19 due to age and/or comorbidities, despite the urging of medical professionals and have also failed to appropriately monitor individuals with COVID-19(11). There is also a continuation of interfacility transfers between states and across states despite the high risk of possible exposure to the virus(12). ICE has also responded to COVID-19 with solitary confinement, which is something the United Nations has banned except in “very exceptional circumstances”(13). Not only is this an inhumane practice, as it can cause lasting trauma and trigger suicidal impulses, some also argue that this practice of placing sick individuals under solitary confinement deters detainees from reporting symptoms(14). A surge in failures to report symptoms will only lead to more sick individuals and, eventually, more deaths.
Conclusion
This global analysis of the spread of the COVID-19 in Refugee Camps and Detention Centers globally demonstrates the dire need for change. The evidence from Greece, Burma, Bangladesh, and Jordan clearly shows that Refugee Camps need access to more resources in order to ensure proper sanitation, implement physical distancing measures, and help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. The Detention Centers along the United States and Mexico border are also struggling to institute the necessary measures to maintain the safety of detainees. Although humanitarian aid organizations have attempted to remedy some of these issues by providing resources, these efforts have not been sufficient. A global and coordinated response is needed in order to ensure the “Good Health and Wellbeing” of those living in Detention Centers and Refugee Camps globally. As the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres said in a recent speech, “We all have a vested interest to ensure that the responsibility of protecting the world’s refugees is equitably shared and that human mobility remains safe, inclusive, and respects international human rights and refugee law” (15).