Migration and Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic has increased people's insecurity. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the year 2020 saw 111,000 travel restrictions and border closures worldwide (data from December 2020). According to the IOM, these measures "have undermined the ability of many people to pursue migration as a tool to escape conflict, economic collapse, environmental disaster and other crises" By mid-July, nearly three million people were blocked, sometimes without access to the basic needs. Border closures have also prevented displaced people from seeking refuge. With the possibilities for migrants to move severely restricted, in the first half of 2020, it was observed that asylum applications fell by a third, compared to the same period the previous year. The closure of borders has also deteriorated the (poor) quality of life of people living in camps such as Lesvos in Greece or Calais in France. Refugees are also more exposed than ever to health risks, as access to essential hygiene resources and protective equipment is limited. Refugees are also more exposed than usual to health risks, as access to essential hygiene resources and protective equipment is limited.