Refugees in Syria Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic, Essay Example

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected almost everyone in the world, but refugees have been significantly affected. It is estimated that more than one and a half of the Syrian refugees are in stuck in Lebanon, where they are unable to get home or get some essential needs. The movement was halted by the international travels being stopped, and as such, the refugees are living in conditions of existing xenophobia. The refugees have been left unprotected from Covid-19 in the overcrowded camps where it is hard to keep the measures like social distancing (UN migration 21). There have also been cases of shortage in water and thus making it hard to maintain some of the essential hygiene protocols.  Lebanon’s problem is that the UNHCR has not been registering the refugees making the people remain stranded unaddressed, especially at the hard times. The research will include some measures to include in solving the problem, the interventions contributing to the problem, and also some recommendations.

To have the protection of the most vulnerable refugees and members of Lebanon, for the betterment of the refuges, the UNHCR is appealing for strong support from the aid organizations. There is also concern about the humanitarian situation for the refugees who wish to return to their home counties. Many of the refugees live below their poverty line, and a large population needs the case (Markus 12). As some of the refugees think of returning to their countries, it will also be essential to improve the situations in the communities that they are supposed to return to. The donor counties are being urged to ensure that they provide aid packages for the support in the host counties and ensure that the plans strategized will be actualized. There is also a need to have bilateral development on the support and have investments from the international financial while recognizing the essential role in the UNHCR’s collaboration with the World Bank.

Some of the concerns have also been raised on why it is hard for the Syrian refuges to get help. There is the Lebanon disastrous economy such that the country is broke, and also the currency is down for some months even before the corona pandemic. The situation is even worse because most of the Syrians work in the construction, and agriculture, which has been halted by the pandemic (UN migration 1). The people in the governments do not have that much seriousness in dealing with the refugees, and that was seen especially when the country stopped the UNHCR registration of the refugees. There is a need for the government to ensure registration of the refugees such that they can be helped in settling. Many plans have been initiated and developed, but they still cannot be used because of the inadequate implementation programs.

The top humanitarian concern at the Covid-19 crisis concern is ensuring that there is access to funding for the displaced Syrians.  The Covid-19 pandemic has left about 11 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, and the Organization for Migration (1OM) has called for donors to support the displaced Syrians and also ensure mitigating the impact of covid-19 (UN migration 1).  The success of the interventions will be aimed at saving lives and ensuring that humanitarian access is guaranteed. The most vulnerable need to be made sure that they have access to the vital essentials in their needs. There have already been plans and funding that will help address the response of the evolving needs of the people who have been affected by the pandemics (Refugees 21). The IOM has come in the partnerships with organizations to provide essentials like the IDPs for food, clothing kits, and also some emergency items. The shelters need to be rehabilitated, provide rental assistance, and also provide excellent reception in some sectors.

From the solutions, it is essential to have a consideration of some of the changes that should be made to ensure that the condition of the refugees is not as harsh as it is at the moment. The first recommendation is to allow the humanitarian agencies like the UNHCR to provide aid and come up with policies for the settlement of the refugees (Refugees 21). It is essential to have the implementation of the 1951 convention for the employees such that there will be the creation of the specific definitions on what is all about the refugees, have a path for legal residency, and have providence for the government phones. It will also be essential to promote the use of phones at the camps because that has been seen to have a lot of importance for their help.

In conclusion, Covid-19 has affected mostly the people who are more vulnerable in the community economically, politically, and also in the health crisis. The Syrian refugees are examples of some of the vulnerable groups, mainly because the Lebanese government does not take care of them. There is a need to encourage the dehumanization of the refugees such that the threat will not turn out to be catastrophic in the slums. Even before the Covid-19, the pandemic had a rise in the severe downtown from the government. As such, they were only able to pay for the necessary accommodations in the food and water; thus, the situation is very hard at the moment. To deal with the problems, there is a need to have to register for the refugees for the legal residency and also have government-mandated phones. The measures may help the refugees in improving the quality of life while dealing with the economic burden at the camps. The country needs to stand with the refugees to avoid creating a weak spot for the pandemic.

Works Cited

(www.dw.com)UN migration. “Syrian Refugees In Lebanon More Scared Of Starvation Than COVID-19 | DW | 06.05.2020”. DW.COM, 2020, https://www.dw.com/en/syrian-refugees-in-lebanon-more-scared-of-starvation-than-covid-19/a-53355378.

Göransson, Markus. “How Smartphones Help Syrian Refugees In Lebanon Negotiate The Precarity Of Displacement.” Jstor.Org, 2020, https://www.jstor.org/kbart/collections/securitystudies-backfile-collection?contentType=research_reports.

Refugees, United. “Enhanced Support For Syria Refugees Vital Amid COVID-19 Pandemic – UNHCR Chief”. UNHCR, 2020, https://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2020/6/5efb5c754/enhanced-support-syria-refugees-vital-amid-covid-19-pandemic-unhcr-chief.html.

Refugees, United. “Syrian Refugees Profoundly Hit By COVID-19 Economic Downturn”. UNHCR, 2020, https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2020/6/5ee884fb4/syrian-refugees-profoundly-hit-covid-19-economic-downturn.html.

UN migration. “Access And Funding For Displaced Syrians Remains A Top Humanitarian Concern Amid COVID-19 Crisis”. International Organization For Migration, 2020, https://www.iom.int/news/access-and-funding-displaced-syrians-remains-top-humanitarian-concern-amid-covid-19-crisis