The Exacerbated Effects of COVID-19 in Syrian Refugee Camps
Stephanie Dandelé, Online Staff Writer
October 23, 2020
Photo courtesy of RSA RSA
With the second wave of COVID-19 beginning to affect many parts of the world, concern for Syrian refugees residing in refugee camps is growing and with good reason. The devastating effects of COVID-19 are well-known across the globe, from countries with immense access to healthcare and health resources to those with very little to no access, everyone has struggled in combating the disease. Prominent health officials worldwide have advised and advocated for the global population to practice preventative measures such as social distancing, frequent hand washing, and wearing masks. But what about those who cannot partake in such practices, what are the consequences they face as a result?
Consequently, due to the close living quarters in refugee camps, Syrian refugees are not afforded the luxury of practicing social distancing in order to protect themselves and their families against COVID-19. The Zaatari refugee camp located in Jordan about ten kilometers away from the capital city of the Mafraq Governate is home to approximately 77,000 Syrian refugees who all reside within the 5.3 square kilometers of the camps boundaries (Tadros 2020). With so many people in such a small space social distancing is near impossible. While some try to stay confined to their tents away from others, this is not a sustainable solution as physical activity, such as walking around the camp, as well as getting resources for oneself and one’s family requires them to step outside and expose themselves (HelpAge 2020). In addition to refugees’ lack of ability to practice social distancing, refugee camps also often lack sufficient sanitation services to support the large number of inhabitants. This further contributes to Syrian refugees being unable to practice the advised preventative measures because they do not have the resources to do so.
Currently in India we are seeing how the lack of ability to practice preventative measures exacerbates the spread of COVID-19. The lack of access to sanitation services as well as the dense population can explain the drastic and continuous rise of COVID-19 cases in India which is currently the second most affected country in the world.
The global pandemic has also had an impact on the global economy as well as local economies and the consequences of this are visible in refugee camps. The UNHCR’s regional communications spokesperson for the Middle East stated that COVID-19 is causing a “poverty pandemic that will result in serious protection risks” such as the impact it has had on people's access to food and education (Chulov 2020). Further protection risks include an increase in child labour, early marriages, and gender-based violence because of the tensions the economic crisis coupled with the pandemic has caused (UNHCR 2020). While these are the visible immediate impacts, the long-term consequences of this for those most vulnerable are not yet clear.
Since the global pandemic began the UNHCR has provided emergency cash that has supported approximately 200,000 Syrian refugees who did not receive previous financial aid (UNHCR 2020). However, as seen in Jordan, only 17,000 out of 49,000 families that were identified as eligible for the support received the emergency support and the UNHRC is lacking the funds to extend this program and others like it to help refugees (UNHCR 2020).
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 were found in workers at both the Zaatari and the Azraq Syrian refugee camps in Jordan at the beginning of September (Al-Khalidi 2020). Though the final confirmed case numbers resulting from the exposures have not been confirmed, the cases made officials realize the devastating outcomes that could have occurred had the virus not been contained. Without leaving the camp's residents alone by restricting humanitarian aid workers access to the camp completely, the only option is to try to ensure that every measure possible is taken to screen those coming in and out of the camp for symptoms as they are the ones who are likely to bring the disease in with them. It is also important that testing is available and ready for refugees located in the camps if it is needed, therefore ensuring that the refugees themselves have access to as much of the same COVID-19 healthcare services as permanent residents of the country do.
Host communities as well as the international community must step up to ensure that everything possible is being done to protect refugees residing in camps which increases their vulnerability to exposure because of their inability to practice preventative measures. It is vital that the countries where refugee camps are located work to incorporate refugees into the COVID-19 protocols and specified national health responses. Those most vulnerable cannot be left without adequate support systems in place to protect themselves against COVID-19 in this uncertain time.