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Ms Zurija Memedova (Junior Associate, Ministry of Justice, North Macedonia)

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Ms Zurija Memedova (Junior Associate, Ministry of Justice, North Macedonia)

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In order to reduce the harmful consequences for the health of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants passing through our country, there are a number of activities carried out by the Red Cross, in close cooperation with state institutions and health authorities.

The Red Cross teams, which are deployed at our border crossings, in the reception centers, but also in the asylum center implement a number of protocols related to the Covid-19 pandemic.

At present, there is an increased distribution of hygiene items and protective medical equipment (masks and gloves) for a long period of time, and leaflets with the necessary contents for protection against the disease are distributed in Arabic and Urdu language to the people who arrive in the centers.

Additionally, their temperature is measured regularly and if there are suspicions of illness, in cooperation with the Center for Public Health, they are tested for Covid. If someone is ill, the treatment process begins immediately and he / she is placed in self-isolation in strictly defined rooms, ie facilities, from where he / she is allowed to function normally after recovery. Additionally, it is important to know that migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in North Macedonia enjoy the same medical protection and rights as the domestic population in the country.

The UN has launched a "Help" website and a telephone 24/7 helpline and advertised them in the communities, and worked to raise awareness of prevention from C19 on places along the route for irregular movements and places for admission. The UN provided computers and other equipment equipment to ensure better access to information and connectivity during restrictions due to KOVID-19 and to increase the capacity of the relief center of access to online education for asylum-seeking children. The UN has helped establish a safe haven counseling / interviewing in the reception centers Vizbegovo and Vinojug in order to improve two-way communication with asylum seekers as well as to provide confidential and effective communication between asylum seekers and legal aid partners. To improve the acceptance standards of applicants asylum and increase the capacity for independence, The UN supported the MLSP in preparing two important ones documents in 5 languages: house rules and information booklet for access to the rights, which were distributed to the applicants of asylum housed in the reception center in Vizbegovo, and was provided and technical equipment. With the support of the UN, MLSP and the Faculty of Philology have introduced a platform for learning Macedonian language online. This will allow access up to quality language lessons for asylum seekers immediately upon arrival regardless of their location. Best practices of refugees being integrated in the prevention and response to the pandemic.

Unfortunately there is no information on best practices of refugees being integrated in the prevention and response to the pandemic in our country.

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Mr. Yassin Gayira Kagaba (Registration Specialist, Ministry in charge of Emergency Management, Rwanda)

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Mr. Yassin Gayira Kagaba (Registration Specialist, Ministry in charge of Emergency Management, Rwanda)

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In Rwanda, we had some challenges in protection to Refugees during the Covid-19 pandemic in Camps. In response we carried out the following:

1. Sensitization campaigns, on the outbreak, prevention measures.

2. Facilitated refugees to hand washing sites in all corners of the camp.

3. Restriction of individuals who wanted to access the camp without covid tests negative results.

4. Youth volunteers were put in all camps to follow up on proper mask wearing, 2-meter spacing in sitting arrangements and hand washing.

5. Free testing was done.

6. Isolation centres were constructed in all camps for those with Covid, and treatment was given.

7. Free masks to all refugees and lastly groves and sanitizers to all refugee volunteers.

In short, all 5 refugee camps in Rwanda are now Covid-19 free and some isolation centres were closed

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Ms Yamilka Diaz (Immigration Officer, Enforcement Department, Immigration Department, Turks and Caicos Island)

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Ms Yamilka Diaz (Immigration Officer, Enforcement Department, Immigration Department, Turks and Caicos Island)

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1. A good practice for the integration of refugees during Covid-19 is having awareness. Good practices on cross-cultural understanding between refugees and border community.

2. Allowing refugees to have access to medical care during pandemics regardless of their status.

3. To put in place policies that will protect refugees during a pandemic without violating they rights.

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Mr. Vugar Sardarov (Inspector, State Migration Service, Azerbaijan)

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Mr. Vugar Sardarov (Inspector, State Migration Service, Azerbaijan)

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I would like to inform you about measures, which were implemented by Azerbaijan, especially by the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

During the pandemic, the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SMS) and the Representation of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the Republic of Azerbaijan launched “Contribution for Humanitarian Activities included in IOM Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan Coronavirus Disease 2019 (IOM COVID GSRP)- COVID-19- South Caucasus” Project. The main objective of the project jointly implemented by IOM and the State Migration Service between August 15 and December 31, 2020 was to help foreigners and refugees who were in a difficult economic situation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and urgently needed food, shelter, or did not have the financial means to solve the necessary medical problems.

In total, more than 400 migrants and 80 refugees were provided with food, temporary housing, medical and documentary assistance, as well as with personal protective equipment kits in the framework of the project funded by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM).

Therefore, with participation of members of the “Migration Volunteer” Public Union under the SMS the kits with information leaflets on COVID-19, hand sanitizer, thermometers, gloves, masks, and antibacterial wipes were delivered to vulnerable foreigners temporarily residing in Baku, Azerbaijan.

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Ms Vjollca Rushay (State Advisor for Prevention of Torture, Ombudsman of the Republic of North Macedonia, North Macedonia)

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Ms Vjollca Rushay (State Advisor for Prevention of Torture, Ombudsman of the Republic of North Macedonia, North Macedonia)

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COVID-19 pandemic has been the worst thing that could ever happen to the human race. There have been lots of challenges for all of us, especially for the refugees.

I would like to mention that the work that I am doing is visiting the places where the refugees are accommodated. One of the issues that we handle is how they are integrated in the prevention and response to the pandemic.

At all the institutions/places where refugees are accommodated, they are treated equally as other citizens. They have been educated how to take care of themselves and how to protect themselves from this disease. There are printed pamphlets and posters for prevention and protection from the pandemic. To all of them are given medicaments and materials for disinfection.

There have been a possibility for all of those who wanted to be educated to attend online courses.

Before entering each institution, in order to protect those that are already accommodated there, there are provided PCR testes, and if they result negative, then they are accommodated properly.

This year have been the worst one, and we have tried to manage it with all the resources that are available and we have tried to visit the refugees as much as possible in order to know that they are treated well.

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Ms Violeta Jimenez Alcantara (Paralegal, General Directorate of Migration, Dominican Republic)

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Ms Violeta Jimenez Alcantara (Paralegal, General Directorate of Migration, Dominican Republic)

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Good practices during the Covid-19 pandemic regarding refugees should extend to every stage of the process and there must be practices that take into consideration both recognized refugees and those applicants still waiting for an answer.

Avoiding to fully close borders, even if airports are closed.

During the most critical period of the pandemic, almost all countries closed their borders at the same time, making it extremely difficult for refugees to reach safe lands. It is important for countries bordering other states to maintain some level of openness on their borders to make it possible for refugees to seek asylum.

Vaccination

Keeping track of the status of vaccination of all refugees and applicants for the recognition of the status of refugee should be a priority for every country. Getting in contact with each one of them, asking weather they are vaccinated or not, and the offering to facilitate vaccination to all of them, making sure they are not left behind the government´s vaccination plan.

Covid-19 tests

Similar with vaccination, refugees and applicants should be made aware that they will be able to have access to the covid-19 tests when they need it.

Remote meetings, digital documents.

To protect them and ensure that distance is kept, zoom meetings should be an option when possible (i.e. for the interview as part of the refugee status determination process).

Any documents they received should be made available in a digital form, to avoid making them go out to the streets and move to a government office in order to receive them.

Economic aid.

This is particularly important for those applicants that are still in the process. Most of the time is very difficult, almost impossible, for them to get access to jobs, making it hard for them to make a living. The pandemic exacerbated this situation. The government, along with the help of NGOs, should have social programs aiming to granting access to economic resources for refugees and the refugee status determination applicants. This could be in the form of paid labour or relief checks.

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Ms Tatiana Ciumas (Head of Integration and Accommodation Unit, Bureau of Migration and Asylum under the Ministry of Interior, Moldova)

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Ms Tatiana Ciumas (Head of Integration and Accommodation Unit, Bureau of Migration and Asylum under the Ministry of Interior, Moldova)

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COVID had a big impact in the Republic of Moldova and still has. The efficient management of challenges and finding solutions for overcoming the impact could not be solved without the assistance of UNHCR and implementing partners (NGOs). For the state authorities, especially the Bureau of Migration and Asylum, as top priority was to ensure that the asylum system is fully operational, the rights are provided and the obligations are fulfilled.

If we talk about the state, we should mention that in Moldova was set the emergency situation (Parliament decision), Extraordinary national commission on public health, green/orange/red system for differentiation of regions affected by COVD, vaccination etc.

In the context of presented video, Moldova also closed the border and allowed access only in special conditions for certain categories of foreigners (ex. holding resident permits). As for asylum there were no restrictions in applying for asylum – the cases registered in the system were of persons who entered the country via Airport, or already present in the country (ex. no possibility to extend the validity of passport).

Asylum seekers pass the medical examination including COVID testing in order to be accommodated in the Accommodation Center. In the Accommodation Center on permanent basis are organized training sessions by administration, are provided protection measures, common spaces are used respecting COVID-measures (kitchen, TV room, gym, library etc.). Periodically, as a prevention measure is organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs testing of accommodated persons and staff working in the Center. The Accommodated Center was included in the list of first institutions where vaccination was organized. In Moldova first were vaccinated doctors and social assistants, then different types of centers and elderly people, the last stage entire population. Asylum seekers staying in the Center were vaccinated jointly with the staff, and the process is still organized on continuous basis for new comers. The asylum seekers staying in the Center who got sick were treated in the same conditions as citizens being placed in specialized institutions, received treatment free of charge. The same situation was ensured for asylum seekers / refugees residing in the country. NGOs provided, when possible, medicines.

Those residing in the Accommodation Center benefited of services provided by NGOs like legal assistance, social assistance, material assistance, employment assistance, the state provided psychological assistance, food packages, integration measures.

Due to UNHCR support, in Moldova was decided to be granted a one-time assistance in the context of COVID. According to the criteria the cash assistance was intended primarily for asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection in order to pay rent and other basic needs that they cannot meet as a result of job loss or other sources of income due to the COVID-19 situation. The amount represented the minimum subsistence level set by the Government of Moldova for the previous year.

At the same time, children who were in asylum, but recently received the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova, were also eligible for assistance.

In support of the evaluation, the following sources were analysed:

• For informal employment, the impact of the measures on certain specific occupations / livelihoods;

• For formal employment, attestation from the employer indicating that the natural person is no longer employed or encouraged (does not work and does not receive payment, including unemployment benefit, for a certain period);

• Secondary data sources that provide evidence of the non-reimbursable expenses needed to meet basic needs (housing, health care, child care, etc.) that exceed household income.

• Secondary data documenting specific needs and / or chronic health conditions by reviewing existing medical and / or other records.

• Testimonies from trusted people that could include the owner, neighbours, school administration;

• Individual testimonies collected through virtual evaluation interviews (Skype, WhatsApp, telephone, etc.).

Additionally, UNHCR agreed to provide one-time assistance to recognised stateless persons in the Republic of Moldova, representing a very vulnerable category.

In cooperation with the NGO Law Center of Advocates leaflets were developed and printed for foreigners on measures to prevent Covid-19. The leaflets were published in 8 languages (Arabic, Bengali, English, French, Kurdish, Romanian, Russian, Urdu / Dari) and distributed within the Accommodation Center and Temporary Placement Center, both centres managed by the Bureau of Migration and Asylum.

Unfortunately, as presented in the video, asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection were affected on employment - they lost their job or temporarily stopped working. Thus, the one-time assistance was of great help for our beneficiaries.

Regarding education, the process was ensured, some periods in the context of prevention through on-line format, being a challenge for the entire population. In the Accommodation Center there is a specialized room, access to wi fi, and the education process was continued.

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Mr. Surafel Yifru (Human Rights Officer, IDPs, and Migrants Department, Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, Ethiopia)

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Mr. Surafel Yifru (Human Rights Officer, IDPs, and Migrants Department, Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, Ethiopia)

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In Ethiopia there are more than 700,000 refugees. Most of the refugees in the country are living in refugees camps. Majority of the refugees in Ethiopia are originated from. South Sudan, Somalia, Eritiria and others. Most of the refugees in Ethiopia are located in least developed regional states in the country.

In 2017 the government of Ethiopia (GoE) accepted to implement Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF). The core objectives of the Framework are to ease pressure on the host countries, enhance refugee self-reliance, expand access to third-country resettlement solutions, and support conditions in countries of origin for safe return. Following the decision of GoE to implement CRRF, in 2019 the GoE revised the 2004 refugee proclamation. The main focus of the revised proclamation is on durable solutions through local integration of refugees. To impliment CRRF the government of Ethiopia has been offered refugees out of camp and the right to work as a pledge.

During Covid 19 the out of camp policy was suspended for refugees living in camps. Since the government decided to close all the refugee camps and borders, it was very difficult for refugees to go out of camp. INGOs who has been working in refugee camps also lose contact with refugees and the activities they have been implimenting was also suspended for almost six months.

To prevent the pandemic the government of Ethiopia closed  all refugee camps; covid 19 prevention mechanisms has been informed were diseminated; some INGOs was changed their activity in a way that they can prevent the spread of the pandemic.; some INGOs turned their activity into a hot line through which refugees can get information from INGOs i.e legal aid; Those refugees with positive result were hospitalized and they have been accessing health centers.

In general, we can say that most of the activities were refugee inclusive in covide 19 prevention, from access to information to health care access within the capacity of the country.

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Mr. Sayed Hamidullah Hanif (Program Manager Access to Justice, Terre des Hommes, Afghanistan)

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Mr. Sayed Hamidullah Hanif (Program Manager Access to Justice, Terre des Hommes, Afghanistan)

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- Using open area in the camps

- Making new arrangement in the camp to respect the social distance

- Awareness

- Using the available stuff for hygiene

- Advocacy with policy makers

- Sharing the lesion learnt

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Ms Rubina Paparelli (Protection/Detention Delegate, ICRC, Tunisia)

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Ms Rubina Paparelli (Protection/Detention Delegate, ICRC, Tunisia)

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Free access to health in Italy (one of the most affected countries by Covid-19 in Europe)… not so easy for refugees

- In line with Ms Garlick’s presentation and for background information, refer to Refugees and migrants intimes of COVID-19: mapping trends of public health and migration policies and practices by WHO (2021) (pages 26-27: “The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the relevance and importance of universal health coverage and the role of properly functioning medical services accessible for everyone regardless of legal status and nationality. At the same time, the global pandemic is simply another example, albeit a very persuasive one, showing that no one can be neglected or compromised when it comes to access to health care. Access to health care is not only a temporary necessity in the time of pandemic but also a permanent legal obligation under international law for the States that are parties to the relevant international treaties. The right to health is enshrined in a significant number of legally binding treaties as well the WHO Constitution (Preamble) (86). These international treaties include the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (art. 12) (9), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (art. 5(e)(iv)) (10), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (arts. 11(1)(f) and 12) (87), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (art. 24) (11), the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (art. 24(1)(b)) (12) and the 27 Refugees and migrants in times of COVID-19: mapping trends of public health and migration policies and practices International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (arts. 25(1)(a) and 28) (13). More recently, States have reinforced their obligations towards migrants by having committed under the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration to ensuring safe access to basic services for all migrants regardless of their legal status (objective 15) (19). The basic services include an affordable and non-discriminatory health-care system with reduced communication barriers and culturally sensitive ways of delivery”).

Despite the Italian health system being accessible to anyone present on the territory, migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees met additional challenges as they usually lack a national health card (linked to a residence permit) which is necessary to be issued a certificate of vaccination (“green pass”), currently requested to access public spaces, workspaces and schools, long-distance means of transportation among others. This “apparently tiny” but pivotal difficulty revealed the presence of a discriminatory system potentially excluding these people from accessing basic services.

This obstacle is still being tackled starting from the use of the "temporarily present foreigner" (STP) code to obtain the “green pass”.

This example, which is drawn from a good practice of ensuring vaccine access to anyone, also shows the importance of developing policies and procedures supporting this right to avoid loopholes.

References:

https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240028906

https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioNotizieNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=english&menu=notizie&p=dalministero&id=4317

https://www.oecd.org/migration/netcom/campaigns-tools-platforms/juma-map.htm

https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/03/16/italy-coronavirus-migrants-asylum-seekers

https://euobserver.com/coronavirus/152939

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Ms Rubi Egas (Resettlement Expert, UNHCR, Guatemala)

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Ms Rubi Egas (Resettlement Expert, UNHCR, Guatemala)

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-In Ecuador, COVID-19 vaccination campaigns were implemented to provide vaccination at no cost for all persons with an identification document regardless of their nationality or migratory status, therefore refugees were able access.

-Different governments, mainly in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and north Africa, adapted their national asylum procedures to ensure compliance with social distancing and other prevention measures.

-Many countries in Europe released migrants and asylum seekers held in immigration detention and avoided new placements in detention centres.

-Turkey provided universal access to health care to all refugees and migrants regardless of their status.

-Denmark made COVID-19-related information available for refugees and migrants in 25 languages.

-The Government of Greece took measures to improve hygiene conditions in refugee camps.

-The Mission Wings Foundation and the Council of Refugee Women in Bulgaria delivered a combination of in-person and remote community awareness sessions on both COVID-19 and GBV support and prevention services available.

- In Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Serbia UNICEF partners distributed dignity and hygiene kits inside reception centres and as part of their outreach activities. This not only assisted in the continuation of in-person contact with refugee and migrant women and girls, but also created an entry point to share GBV information with them because the kits provided included both COVID and GBV information in the kits.

-In Mexico, UNHCR, in collaboration with IOM and UNICEF, developed child-friendly information recreational activities during the lockdown.

-In Ukraine, UNHCR shared important information on its online refugee youth platform, including useful links for free online courses that was used for social interactions and peer-to-peer support.

-In Jordan, Morocco, and Panama, UNHCR and partners expanded help/hotline services by re-deploying staff, who would have been directly accessible, to call centres to provide advice and guidance to children and their families.

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Mr. Ricardo Henao Galvis (Human Rights Officer, OHCHR, Honduras)

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Mr. Ricardo Henao Galvis (Human Rights Officer, OHCHR, Honduras)

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Prioritize the vaccination process for refugees and undocumented migrants.

Keep borders open to refugees and asylum seekers, and avoid doing refoulement.

Continue with the registration of refugees.

Belgium has released detained undocumented migrants during the pandemic.

To ensure that migrant communities have access to all relevant information, German communications are shared through social media channels, through migrant organizations and other existing networks in several languages.

Ireland’s Minister of Health confirmed that undocumented migrants would be able to access healthcare and social services, “…as the Minister for Health I want to provide an assurance to those people that the health service will treat them with dignity and with absolute privacy and patient confidentiality, as will their social work system, during this time of emergency. We want people to come forward to be tested.”

Italy’s Minister of Interior prolonged the temporary residence permits of migrant workers.

Many Italian regions have guidance on the protection against the virus, translated in many languages.

The Netherlands has released detained undocumented migrants during the pandemic.

The National Center for Multicultural Education (NAFO) has gathered information about COVID-19 in several languages, as well as various online learning resources for minority language learners.

On 28 March 2020, Portugal initiated a special measure enabling undocumented people with pending residence applications to access public services and social security benefits on the same level as nationals, until at least 1 July 2020.

Spain is gradually releasing all migrants from the detention centers and facilitating suitable accommodation arrangements.

The Tunisian government has suspended visa expiry dates and financial implications, and has confirmed that financial and in-kind support will be specifically granted to migrants and refugees.

The New York State Department of Health announced that all low-income immigrants, regardless of immigration status, would have access to COVID-19 testing, evaluation and treatment as services covered by the Emergency Medicaid program.

The New York State Department of Health announced that all low-income immigrants, regardless of immigration status, would have access to COVID-19 testing, evaluation and treatment as services covered by the Emergency Medicaid program.

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) underlined that California law stipulates every person in the state is entitled to the health services for COVID-19, including without regard to immigration status.

The state of California has launched a public-private partnership to provide financial support to undocumented immigrants impacted by COVID-19. California will provide $75 million in disaster relief assistance from its state public budget, and philanthropic partners have committed to raising an additional $50 million.

The City of Chicago makes COVID-19 relief available to all, regardless of immigration status.

The state of New Jersey is allowing medical doctors who are licensed outside the US to receive a temporary emergency license to practice medicine.  This will allow for refugee and migrant physicians to contribute directly to the public health response to COVID-19, in one of the US states that has been most affected by the pandemic.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Releases Hundreds Of Immigrants As Coronavirus Spreads in Detention Centers.

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Ms Rehema Mzinga (Assistant Protection, Refugees Service Department, Ministry of Home Affairs, Tanzania)

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Ms Rehema Mzinga (Assistant Protection, Refugees Service Department, Ministry of Home Affairs, Tanzania)

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1. While refugees have right to access to territory hosting states must make sure that they are  protecting public health. For instance there must a desk for medical screening in general

2. Social distancing maintained while attending to cases, proving cases etc.

3. Education to host community and asylum on COVID-19 prevention

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Mr. Ramhari Sharma (Under-Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Nepal)

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Mr. Ramhari Sharma (Under-Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Nepal)

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Some of the best practices if refugees being integrated in the prevention and response to the pandemic are as follows:

setting up covid-19 test centres in the boarders before the refugees and asylum seekers enter the country and taking care of their resettlement

setting up quarantine and detention centres for the infected and possible carriers of the virus and providing them with indiscriminate health care services

providing communication and helpline for the refugees in case they're being discriminated and abused in the detention centres and resettlement areas

making use of the refugees' resources by permitting them to work in the health care centres

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Ms Pratiksha K. C. (Section Officer, Legal Department, Ministry of Home Affairs, Nepal)

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Ms Pratiksha K. C. (Section Officer, Legal Department, Ministry of Home Affairs, Nepal)

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Nepal becomes first country in Asia Pacific to vaccinate refugees against COVID-19

Nepal hosts large number of refugees (40,490-source wikipedia), mostly Tibetans and Bhutanese with arrival dates in 1959 and in the early 1990s respectively and recently other refugee like Rohingya, Afgan etc .Nepal is vaccinating refugees over the age of 65 as part of its national vaccination rollout.Local authorities, refugee leaders and security officials set up a temporary vaccination centre at the refugee settlement and as of 24 March, some 668 refugees above the age of 65 had received vaccinations against the virus across the country. The risk of COVID-19 is the same for all It doesn’t matter if you are a refugee or not so Government of Nepal has played outstanding role  in the Asia pacific region for public health responses including refugees.

Source: https://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/2021/3/6062c7184/

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Mr. Paul Lewis (Senior Immigration Officer, Enforcement Department, Immigration Department, Turk and Caicos Island)

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Mr. Paul Lewis (Senior Immigration Officer, Enforcement Department, Immigration Department, Turk and Caicos Island)

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1. Consultation with refugees and asylum seekers

2. Specific attention to children’s needs.

3. Other health risks include mental health

4. Value of multi-lateral forces and actors

5. Relevance of the 1951 convention

6. Non-discriminatory access to health services.

7. Proportionate and flexibly reasonable to protect public health.

8. Measures must be necessary.

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Ms Nikoleta Koukourigkou (Head of Department of Administrative and Operational Support, Ministry of Migration and Asylum – Appeals Authority, Greece)

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Ms Nikoleta Koukourigkou (Head of Department of Administrative and Operational Support, Ministry of Migration and Asylum – Appeals Authority, Greece)

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All appellants can submit applications through the Appeals Authority site (https://migration.gov.gr/en/appeals/b-vathmos/) without having to visit the service’s premises.

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Ms Nazrin Asgarli (Junior Inspector, State Migration Service, Azerbaijan)

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Ms Nazrin Asgarli (Junior Inspector, State Migration Service, Azerbaijan)

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COVID-19 has thrown up many challenges for refugees and displaced people worldwide. When the WHO first recognized in March 2020, that the global COVID-19 outbreak could be characterized as a pandemic, numerous states began taking measures designed to limit the spread of the virus, which impacted on refugees and displaced persons as well as other populations within and seeking to cross their borders.

Both the experience from previous economic crises and first indications on labour market and social outcomes during the current pandemic suggest that the COVID‑19 crisis is likely to have a disproportionate impact on immigrants and their children. This policy brief provides first evidence on how the pandemic has affected immigrants and their children in terms of health, jobs, education, language training and other integration measures, and public opinion, and describes host countries’ policy responses. It complements a previous brief on the impact of the pandemic on migration management. Immigrants are potentially in a more vulnerable position in the labour market due to their generally less stable employment conditions and lower seniority on the job. Studies also suggest that discrimination strongly increases in times of a slack labour market, while networks of contacts – of which migrants have fewer – become more relevant for finding a job. For many migrants, in particular recent arrivals, the near-global lockdown caused by COVID‑19 meant a disruption to language courses they were receiving. Most countries were forced to end in-person integration courses as restrictions were imposed, though many have recently started again with in-person courses. While some countries had online language course options available prior to the pandemic, such programmes had not been scaled to reach every eligible migrant. Several countries halted their integration programmes altogether. Across volunteer organisations with language and integration missions also paused their operations. A break in language learning places some migrants at a significant disadvantage. The first five years after arrival is a critical time span, as migrants need to acquaint themselves with public institutions and available services. Discontinuity of language learning can lead to loss of progress in language courses, often resulting in demotivation. Social isolation from host country natives who could help with informal learning is also a concern. Immigrants who speak the host-country language have greater contacts with native speakers than immigrants with little or no command of the host-country language, in part because they are more likely to be employed in a context that requires speaking to natives. Migrants with a low initial level in the host country language are thus particularly affected by programme shutdowns, including in terms of employability and broader social integration.

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Ms Nahirobi Altagracia Peguero Luciano (Protection Associate, UNHCR, Dominican Republic)

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Ms Nahirobi Altagracia Peguero Luciano (Protection Associate, UNHCR, Dominican Republic)

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- Distributing vaccines regardless of immigration status.

- Affordable PCR testing.

- Information sessions on prevention of COVID 19.

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Ms Meraf Admasu (Human Rights Fellow, Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, Ethiopia)

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Ms Meraf Admasu (Human Rights Fellow, Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, Ethiopia)

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In prevention and response to the pandemic, there were border closures, restrictions on freedom of movement, which included quarantine and measures that were mandatory to limit the spread of the infection. Schools and emergency health care systems were suspended in most if not all areas. Health care and hygiene products were not available in in camps. The suspension of these basic services has led to be breach of Human Rights. Even though some of the measures were in allignment with the law such with regards to State of emergency. Although some of the measures are believed to be non discriminatory as it applied to all citizens of a country, some of the measures are believed to target foreiners and has even directly impacted asylum seekers and refugees specifically. So in the prevention and response to the pandemic refugees have fallen to be one of the most vulnerable groups that have faced the challenge and some have had their human rights at stake in this hardship.

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Ms Maitreyi Vishram Joglekar (Advocate, ILS Law College, India)

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Ms Maitreyi Vishram Joglekar (Advocate, ILS Law College, India)

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The COVID-19 pandemic has spread quickly and widely across the world during March 2020, which was resulted in millions of deaths occurred because of this virus. The virus was deadly and not only affected civilians of the countries but mostly to Refugees, Migrants and Asylum Seekers who has no place to stay anywhere. Many governments responded with an escalating range of policies including widespread business and border closures. While some countries are cautiously beginning to emerge from their lockdowns, some form of containment measures are likely to remain in place in many countries for the coming months. The economic consequences of the pandemic are expected to be dire. All universal Banks, Organizations, Funds caused measure loss during the pandemic. The states have taken measures to protect countries during pandemic to save civilians like- Border closures, Restriction on freedom of movement (quarantine, confinement, lockdown), mandatory measures to limit infection spread (masks, hygiene), testing and emergency medical care, closure of schools/ shops/ banks/ institutions/ companies, closure to meet people in group, ban to go outside home except if there is any strong reason.

These impacts are compounded for the millions of refugees living in underdeveloped countries. During this pandemic refugee were badly affected with socio-economic crisis, food crisis, shelter- clothes shortage, protection crisis, health crisis, income crisis etc. They faced de jure restrictions and de facto barriers.

Here are some best practices we can carry out for refugees in this pandemic:

| Sr. No. | Protection taken by countries | Measures can take for Refugees

| 1. | Closure of Borders: Countries sealed their borders fully/ partially to prevent infections to spread.
- Granting people who arrive at borders that claim to be refugees a chance to have their claims examined before summarily returning them.
- Manage border restrictions while respecting human rights., including principle of non- refoulement.
- Countries can put quarantine measures and health checks in place.
- Countries shall give access to asylum under humanitarian ground.

| 2. | Safety measures taken like frequent hand wash and regular sanitization to stop spread of infection.
- Setting up frequent, free handwashing stations, and urging for investments to improve access to clean water, sanitization, and waste management.
- Communicating through trust figures such as religious or local leaders, NGO Workers and volunteers, and social media groups- how handwashing and physical distancing can prevent spreading the virus and where people who are experiencing symptoms can seek medical attention.

| 3. | Setting up Covid centres throughout the country for covid treatment. | Setting up mobile clinics/Covid centres around such vulnerable locations where refugees/ asylum seekers are located to be able to provide immediate testing, isolation and treatment of people who were positive.

| 4. | Setting up of an isolation centre to carry out physical distancing to stop spread of virus from person to person. | Developing human rights-based response plans including non-traumatic temporary evacuations plans of settlements in the event of an outbreak to nearby safe areas to avoid family ruptures; this includes ensuring that people can move with their loved ones, bring valuables, and safely return home after the outbreak; the new area would need to have sufficient space for people to carry out physical distancing and self-isolate if necessary.

| 5. | Various organisations distributed sanitizers, masks, hand soaps for free.
- Distribution of masks, sanitizers, and other sanitization equipment among refugees/ asylum seekers.
- Distribution of other essential services like drinking water, safe food, medicines, adequate housing, toiletries among refugees/ asylum seekers.

| 6. | Countries provide helpline facility for any offences committed during covid 19 outbreak and during lockdown.  |

In confinement:
1. many women face sexual violence, trafficking, rape.
2. Child abuse/trafficking
3. Gender based violence
4. Other crimes
For such violence provide counselling helpline no., information sources, safe houses/shelters, remote GBV case management to refuges/asylum seekers. ·

Displaced Children and Covid-19. Policies and actions are needed to be taken:

1. Include migrant and displaced children in preparedness, response, and mitigation efforts for COVID-19.
2. Provide accessible, timely, culturally, and linguistically appropriate, child friendly and relevant information on covid 19 to children and families on the move.
3. Ensure access to clean water, basic toilets and good hygiene practices for migrant and displaced children and families when transiting or for those living in camps and in urban areas.
4. Ensure universal access to covid 19 testing, health care, mental health and psychological support, and other essential services, for all those who need them, regardless of status. 5. Support and advocate for safer living and housing conditions to allow for social distancing, including in shelters and camps for refugees and internally displaced persons.
6. Implement education strategies for continued learning for all children including migrant and displaced children and make schools safe, healthy, and inclusive environment.
7. Stop refoulment, immigration, detention, push backs, deportations and mass expulsions of migrant and displaced children and families in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic. These practices threaten children’s rights and are a risk to public health.
8. Expand social protection policies and programmes to minimize the economic impact of COVID19 on families.
9. Advocate proactively against xenophobia, stigma, and discrimination – the virus does not discriminate, and neither should we. (Reference-  file (unicef.org))

Other measures:

1. Proper guidance and consultation to refugees and asylum seekers regarding COVID 19 virus.

2. To give specific attention to Children’s needs.

3. Consultation about their mental health.

4. The health services should be non- discriminatory, and measures must be necessary, proportionate, and reasonable.

5. Engage stakeholders.

6. Communicate positive messages regarding racism and xenophobia among the Refugees and Asylum seekers.

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Ms Mugengano Isugi Lisette (Legal Officer, Prison Fellowship Rwanda, Rwanda)

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Ms Mugengano Isugi Lisette (Legal Officer, Prison Fellowship Rwanda, Rwanda)

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Rwanda has been welcoming refugees for over two decades. By the end of 2020, Rwanda hosted 144,662

Individuals, 143,853 individually registered as refugees, from different nationalities (Congolese camps (74,556), Burundian camp (57,617) and urban settings (11,365) as well as 315 persons of concern evacuated from Libya under the Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM). Some 809 individuals are pending registration and pending national asylum procedures.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the UNHCR team deployed all necessary efforts to maintain a favourable protection environment for all Congolese refugees and continued advocating for services such as registration and documentation and prevention of refoulement, lifesaving assistance, including food and nutrition, healthcare, shelter and non-food items, water and sanitation services, education, livelihood and self-reliance and targeted support for the most vulnerable and those with specific needs.

Refugees in camps continued to receive cash for food assistance, and all refugees (100%) receive CBI and assistance for NFI. Supplementary feedings were provided to all children under five years of age and other vulnerable groups, including people with chronic illness. Response partners continue to provide health services to those in need with prioritized attention to the most vulnerable, including children, pregnant and lactating women, people with chronic illness, and the elderly (60+). All Primary Health Care services were accessible and free of charge to both refugees and local communities through the seven health centres/posts in the six refugee camps. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some health programs and activities were affected. The essential health services continued and followed strict infection prevention and control measures aligned with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and WHO protocols. Outpatient consultation services were available to all refugees. Some five percent of the total outpatients were from the host community. The secondary and tertiary medical referrals were also available through a

Referral mechanism between the camp-based health Posts and referral or district hospitals.

UNHCR and partners conducted training on COVID-19 for health care workers, CHWs, procurement of COVID19 medicines and supplies, and establishment of quarantine and isolation facilities supported in collaboration with the district health teams. Moreover, refugees were recently integrated into the national viral hepatitis management by the Ministry of Health (MoH), hepatitis B and C screening, including treatment, were conducted and continued in all camps. Refugees in urban settings had access to the national CommunityBased Health Insurance (CBHI) and accessed health services in public hospitals like nationals. Even though COVID19 restriction measures resulted in school closures for over eight months in 2020, campaigns promoting schooling resulted in a slight increase in enrolment. Over 36,000 refugee students were integrated into national primary and secondary schools alongside the host community. This is number increased by 23,000 in 2020. In the meantime, local schools' capacity continues to be expanded through the construction of additional classrooms, the provision of school equipment and materials, and hiring and training of additional teachers. To further support refugees' access to education and their inclusion in national schools, UNHCR is developing 2021 a partnership with Profuturo/LaCaixa Foundation to provide access to connected learning in line with the Government of Rwanda Policy. This multi-year, innovative project will be aligned with the Government of Rwanda, Ministry of Education, to improve education quality using Information Community and Technology (ICT) to access connected educational learning materials of the national primary education curriculum. The project will benefit 14 national schools hosting refugee students.

Asylum seekers and refugees received corona vaccination. Asylum we also received them and assist them to apply for asylum and the RSD interviewed them.

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Ms Lea Moser (Associate Inter-Agency Coordination Officer, UNHCR, Switzerland)

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Ms Lea Moser (Associate Inter-Agency Coordination Officer, UNHCR, Switzerland)

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During the pandemic, many refugees have stepped up to support the fight against the virus and to mitigate health but also secondary, socio-economic impacts. Many refugees who are doctors, nurses and health workers supported hospitals, clinics and health authorities in their host governments with vaccination campaigns, with support of COVID-19 patients, etc. UNHCR also has many examples of how refugee leaders in their own communities and host communities have helped in reducing the spread of misinformation and rumors, e.g. when it comes to vaccine hesitancy.

UNHCR itself has worked with host sgovernment to help accelerate the licensing of foreign-trained doctors, nurses and other medical workers to join the emergency pool of workers, e.g. in Mexico.

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Mr. Kreshnik Kaçiu (Judge, Basic Court of Pristhina, Kosovo)

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Mr. Kreshnik Kaçiu (Judge, Basic Court of Pristhina, Kosovo)

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The main responsibility in Kosovo for regulating the legislation in the field of refugees, is that of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kosovo, Department for Citizenship, Asylum, Migration, Refugees and Foreigners. During the pandemic, Kosovo institutions made sure that neither a Kosovo citizen nor a refugee should face difficulties regarding the overcoming of the pandemic. Regarding the best practises used by the Kosovo Institutions, it is worth mentioning that all the refugees have been vaccinated with the Covid 19 vaccine, they even had the chance to choose the type of vaccine they wanted to have. Of course, recently, Kosovo welcomed about 2000 refugees who flee from Afghanistan and took all the necessary measure to provide them with shelters, food, medical service and all what they needed for the time they are staying here.

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Ms Konganige Lakshani (Legal Assistant, Right to Information Commission, Sri Lanka)

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Ms Konganige Lakshani (Legal Assistant, Right to Information Commission, Sri Lanka)

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1. Ensuring access to health care for all refugees, regardless of nationality and legal status.

2. Mainly policy consideration to give Protection and sensitive access to territory for refugees for international protection. And also must guide policy-making in the area of access to health care.

3. For effective response to COVID-19 requires, more than ever, sharing responsibility for refugees through enhanced cooperation in due accordance with international law.

4. Also national policies to implement preventive measures aimed at creating preparedness and minimizing the risk of contamination also important

5. Launching vaccination campaigns are necessary health consideration to receive COVID-19 vaccines and explicitly include refugees requiring prioritization of vaccination.

6. All refugees should benefit from the right to health in the host State. The State’s obligations are not dependent on the legal status of an individual and should be performed in a non-discriminatory, barrier-free manner ensuring the highest attainable level of health. In the context of COVID-19, all refugees, therefore, have the right to access all relevant health-care services, such as testing, diagnostics, care and treatment, referral and the COVID-19 vaccination.

7. prioritizing entry requirements over border closure to carry out medical screening on the basis of a careful and evidence-informed risk assessment; and enabling access to territory and asylum procedure for people in need of international protection.

8. Launching communication campaigns to disseminate essential information to refugees concerning COVID-19, health services and other related preventive and preparedness measures

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Mr. Kire Vasilev (Member, Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination, North Macedonia)

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Mr. Kire Vasilev (Member, Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination, North Macedonia)

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1. Some refugees were permitted to work in the health sector and made a positive contribution.

2. Instances of displaced children begin provided with access to education though digital means education seeking to build digital literacy for children and parents, thus improving the digital infrastructure. The refugees work with open-licence resources and there are instances where the private sector is contributing to the education with resources for learning.

3. Since there is a rise in racism and Xenophobia stating that the refugees spread the virus there have been instance of creation and dispersion of positive messages that non-discrimination and equal access to goods and resources reduces public health risks.

4. Testing, health care and other service were made available for asylum seekers and refugees. Refugees and asylum seekers that were trained in health services were provided with opportunity to help the overcrowded hospitals.

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Ms Kim Lee Alvarado (Refugee and Migration Affairs Specialist, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy in Panama City, USA)

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Ms Kim Lee Alvarado (Refugee and Migration Affairs Specialist, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassy in Panama City, USA)

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A best practice in Panama was that COVID-19 vaccination was accessible to refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants, regardless of their legal status. Also, health promotion campaigns on transmission prevention measures, early detection of signs and symptoms, and information on access to health services were directed at refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants specifically through the work of international organizations in coordination with the Ministry of Health. Lastly, community networks were developed, and refugee and migrant community leaders were trained to do health promotion, and to identify and refer cases of people with signs and symptoms but also of those in vulnerable situations who required assistance and protection within their communities.

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HRH Jawaher Al Saud (Second Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia)

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HRH Jawaher Al Saud (Second Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia)

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I would like to share my country’s good practice during covid-19 pandemic; Saudi Arabia has taken reventive and precautionary measures to control its spread. Furthermore, Saudi has worked continuoasly to promote early awareness and education by sharing videos of precautionary measures and their application, and contacted 108 foreign embassies in the Kingdom and provided them with awareness files for them and to pass them on to its citizens residing in the Kingdom, and housing and catering services were responded to for citizens and residents throughout the quarantine period. to direct its nationals, visitors (refugees), and workers to significally improve their health educations through technologies, social networks, sms, podcasts, fliers and every possible way .

Examples of good practices towards the nationals and visitors (refugees) inside the kingdom of Saudi during the pandemic:

- The extension of the validity of visitor (refugee) visas for people who are outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and from countries facing entry suspension because of the novel coronavirus without fees or charges. The beneficiaries of the extension were notified via their emails, where an e-visa form was attached. This comes in implementation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The extension also falls within the Saudi government's continuing efforts to mitigate the repercussions of precautionary measures taken to confront the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the visitors were also enabled in response to their desire to return to their countries under these circumstances.

- An optional free of charges service is provided to all citizens and residents such as visitors (refugee) to make a PCR appointment or receive the COVID-19 vaccine, An appointment is made in advance for beneficiaries to receive the vaccine at the nearest center. Users will receive a message containing the exact date for taking the two doses within 48 hours of submitting their requests. The service can be obtained through ‘Sehhaty’ application. No conditions are required to book an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, so multiple reservation channels were provided. Noteworthy, to use (Sehhaty) app, users must first have an account on (Absher) website.

- Saudi has provided residents/visitors (refugees) with identification documents which enabled them to move, work and obtain health services, including the right to access a free Covid-19 examination through the expanded examination centers and primary health care centers (Tatman), treatment and hypnosis in health facilities, contact tracing, and related preventive and curative measures, as well. In addition, saudi has worked to provide approved Covid-19 vaccines for all groups present, and to record immunization facts in the National Immunization Register.

- Distance learning have been adopted as an alternative to face-to-face education, and the Plans and solutions were in effect to guarantee the safety of citizens and residents (visitorslrefugees) and reduce the impact of the pandemic. Lessons were delivered through applications, and also The iEN Satellite TV educational channels allocated a channel for each grade and track of the secondary stage. The distinctive role played by the technical and administrative personnel was the main factor in the operation and implementation of the project.

Examples of the efforts and good practices of Saudi Arabia internationally:

- Saudi has a leading role in supporting international efforts in addressing the covid-19 pandemic, and its provision of humanitarian aid to the affected countries, in addition to being a major contributor to the “Cofax” vaccine program, and it is in the process of providing vaccines to a number of countries in need through the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action.

- Saudi has announced its contribution of $500 million to support international efforts to address the emerging covid-19 virus pandemic, and it is the first donor country to the International Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization and the largest in the region. At least two billion doses of vaccines will be administered during the year 2021, especially to developing and least developed countries.

- Through its presidency of the G20, Saudi has contributed to the collection of $8 billion to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, which was identified by the World Health Organization and the World Bank. It also presented at the seventy-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly a resolution titled “Unifying global efforts in the face of global health threats: combating COVID-19,” which emphasized the intensification of international cooperation and multilateral efforts in addressing outbreaks of diseases, including by exchanging accurate and timely information. And the need to respect human rights, so that there is no discrimination and racism in efforts to tackle the pandemic.

- Saudi Arabia, represented by the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Action, has supported the efforts of the World Health Organization to confront the Covid-19 virus and a number of international and international organizations, in addition to providing support from medical and preventive equipment and supplies to a number of countries in facing the pandemic according to the needs and requests of those countries.

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Ms Jaling Sim (Programme Coordinator, Women's Aid Organisation, Malaysia)

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Ms Jaling Sim (Programme Coordinator, Women's Aid Organisation, Malaysia)

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Malaysia

Labour market support

Local social enterprise collaborated with refugee tailors in sewing medical PPE items for medical frontliners. The tailors produced over 30,000 pieces of medical PPEs which were distributed to government clinics conducting Covid-19 screenings. This project both provided a means for refugee artisans to earn an income, and supported the effort to help the frontliners battling the coronavirus outbreak.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/529351?fbclid=IwAR1rs8MWo1J6f-YdfKfSQj5TD_sj58MRmg0fu0UbFtYBootsy8QrO0zCmYY#.Xt70Qbzcmog.facebook

Non-discriminatory access to health services

The Malaysia Special Committee on COVID-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) announced that all foreign citizens will be ensured access to the COVID-19 vaccines at no charge under the National Immunisation Programme, including refugees, asylum seekers and the stateless living in Malaysia. Those without identity cards in the area are encouraged to walk-in to the vaccination centre and register for the vaccine with a support letter from their respective community leaders.

Sexual & Gender Based Violence

Information on SGBV helpline and awareness were translated into multiple languages and distributed to the respective communtiies via social messaging platforms such as Facebook, Whatsapp and Telegram.  https://www.facebook.com/womens.aid.org/photos/4365174146897171

Social Protection Approach

Local NGOs collaborated with refugee community leaders in coordinating food aid, rent assistance and financial assistance. Some NGOs also provided free mental health counselling services to the communities. Translators and interpretors were integrated in these services.

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Ms Iris Joy Tayag (Information Management Associate, UNHCR, Philippines)

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Ms Iris Joy Tayag (Information Management Associate, UNHCR, Philippines)

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1. Development of a Business Continuity Plan for the Government (Department of Justice – Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit) to ensure continue operations and coordination for the assistance of persons of concern

2. Remote registration through the field offices of other government agencies (Bureau of Immigration)

3. Extension of the validity of Certificate of Pending Application (from three months to six months)

4. Government allowing for requests to be transmitted via electronic means (e-mail)

5. Allow for entry of refugee visa holders in the country

6. Inclusion of POC in the ad hoc assistance of local government units

7. Refugees and stateless persons were included as beneficiaries of the Department of Trade and Industry’s livelihood seeding programme as part of the agency’s commitment in supporting their economic integration during and post-pandemic

8. Persons of concern have been included as beneficiaries of the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Republic Act 11494) for individuals employed in the formal sector

9. Persons of concern are included as beneficiaries for financial assistance for displaced workers in the tourism sector

10. Persons of concern are considered as possible beneficiaries under the Amended Implementing Guidelines on Providing Financial Assistance and Cash-for-work program for Displaced Workers in Tourism Sector

11. Persons of concern shall be “included in priority groups appropriate to their circumstance” pursuant to the National Development and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines

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Mr. Innocent Efoghe (Zonal Coordinator South-Sudan, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Nigeria)

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Mr. Innocent Efoghe (Zonal Coordinator South-Sudan, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Nigeria)

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Best Practice outlined  by the presenter includes the following

1. The must be non-discriminating access to health Services is crucial as it reduces public health risk

2. Preparedness and flexibility

3. Measures must be necessary, proportionate and reasonable

4. Age, gender, diversity and disability-responsive so we can strengthen the response to the Covid Pandemic

5. Consultation with Refugees and asylum seekers is vital

6. There must be specific attention to Children’s needs because of the risk they face

7. The need to address other health risk beyond Covid 19 including mental health

8. Value of Multi-lateral for a and UN actors in responding to crisis across borders

9. Clear recognition of the value and relevance of the 1951 Convention as an important on-going frame work for refugee protection

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Mr. Igor Jadrovski (Member, Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination, North Macedonia)

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Mr. Igor Jadrovski (Member, Commission for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination, North Macedonia)

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- One of the first positive examples is the example with some countries who allowed the refugees to work in the health sector.

- Another positive practice were the countries who provided displaced children access to education via digital education, which led to building digital literacy for children and parents and improving the digital infrastructure.

- Combating the racism and xenophobia stating that the refugees spread the virus via creation and dispersion of positive messages of nondiscrimination and equal access to goods and resources reduces public health risks.

- Positive practice of various services that were made available for asylum seekers and refugees. Refugees and asylum seekers that were trained in health services were provided with opportunity to help the overcrowded hospitals.

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Mr. Idowu-ogbo Stephen Medaiyedu (Special Adviser for Planning, Migration and Refugee issues to the Honourable Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Nigeria)

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Mr. Idowu-ogbo Stephen Medaiyedu (Special Adviser for Planning, Migration and Refugee issues to the Honourable Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Nigeria)

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Best Practices outlined by the presenter includes the following:

1. The must be non-discriminating access to health Services is crucial as it reduces public health risk

2. Preparedness and flexibility

3. Measures must be necessary, proportionate, and reasonable

4. Age, gender, diversity and disability-responsive so we can strengthen the response to the Covid Pandemic

5. Consultation with Refugees and asylum seekers is vital

6. There must be specific attention to Children’s needs because of the risk they face

7. The need to address other health risk beyond Covid 19 including mental health

8. Value of Multi-lateral for a and UN actors in responding to crisis across borders

9. Clear recognition of the value and relevance of the 1951 Convention as an important on-going framework for refugee protection

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Ms Idovel Danielle Ribeiro Guides (Legal Advisor, São Paulo State Court House, Brazil)

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Ms Idovel Danielle Ribeiro Guides (Legal Advisor, São Paulo State Court House, Brazil)

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- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a great number of countries launched campaigns to improve the accessibility of health care for refugees, disseminating information on health care and raising awareness about COVID-19.[1] Also, many governments increased accessibility of health-care services for any other individuals within their territory, rather their only nationals.

- As highlighted by UNHCR, the engagement of the refugee in disseminating information campaigns enhances the impact of such campaigns, facilitating public health efforts to curb the virus.[2]

- Online-learning could be spread to attend refugee children, especially the ones that can have access to schools. During COVID-19, Kilis Municipality, in Turkey, utilised several child centres for children to access online education.[3]

- The COVID-19 led some States adapted their asylum systems, introducing measures for the automatic or remote renewal of asylum-seeker and refugee documentation, remote interviews and registration.[4]

[1] Refugees and migrants in times of COVID-19: mapping trends of public health and migration policies and practices. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
[2] UNHCR. Practical Recommendations and Good Practice to Address Protection Concerns in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic. April. 2020
[3] UNHCR. Global Compact on Refugees; Good Practices & Innovative Approaches by Cities.
[4] UNHCR. The role of the Global Compact on Refugees in the international response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Available: https://globalcompactrefugees.org/article/role-global-compact-refugees-international-response-covid-19-pandemic

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Ms Heide Jimenez Davila (Specialist Advisor, Swiss State Secretariat for Migration SEM, Switzerland)

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Ms Heide Jimenez Davila (Specialist Advisor, Swiss State Secretariat for Migration SEM, Switzerland)

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The following remarks apply to Switzerland. Due to the legal and organizational framework of refugee protection, a distinction is warranted between two categories of persons:

1/ asylum seekers: they live in federal reception centres (maximum length of stay : 140 days). Depending on the outcome of the RSD process, they are transferred afterwards to cantonal reception centres or individual housing. Due to the congregate housing conditions in reception centres, Covid-19 protection plans have been put in place since the beginning of the pandemic to reduce the risk of infection and transmission; medical staff is present 7/7 at all sites.

2/ recognised refugees: they form an integral part of the resident population

With regard to the question at hand, the answer is therefore twofold:

1/ Asylum seekers have contributed to the pandemic response in various ways:

- As “cultural experts”, some have informed the communication strategy at reception centres. By sharing their level of health literacy, risk perception, fears, hopes, beliefs, cultural practices, etc., they have made it possible for health and migration authorities to target the health messages to specific audiences.

- As “protection and prevention champions”, some have led by example at the reception centres and spread the health messages amongst their peers at the reception centres (e.g. roommates, asylum seekers from the same countries of origin, etc.).

- As “community support workers”, some have provided valuable service to the resident population. Asylum seekers can do a limited number of hours of paid community service per week in Switzerland. During the pandemic, some have been instrumental in providing hygiene services (disinfecting train carriages, buses, etc.) and/or cleaning up litter (improperly discarded used masks) in public spaces.

2/ Recognised refugees have contributed in more ways to the pandemic response than can be mentioned. Many serve as essential workers and have ensured the continued functioning of basic services, including health services, social care, public transport and food supply chains. Some have provided countless hours of volunteer services (e.g. delivering groceries to at-risk-persons during the first wave of the pandemic). Others work as translators and interpreters and have made it possible for the authorities to provide health information in 36 languages. Yet others have put their professional expertise at the service of their communities to serve as cultural mediators and build trust in and adherence to the public-help measures (e.g. medical doctors or faith leaders organising Q&A sessions on vaccination for persons hailing from the same background).

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Mr. Gunther Emil Sales (Director, Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines)

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Mr. Gunther Emil Sales (Director, Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines)

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Consistent with its obligations under the 1951 Convention and as part of its long-standing humanitarian tradition, the Philippines has procedures in place to process applications for refugee status, which remain operational even during the pandemic. The relevent government body/unit directly responsible for, for example, refugee status determination among other associated tasks, continues to process applications for asylum despite the pandemic.

This being the case, the Philippines continues to look into current pandemic-related entry restrictions (that can be judged as non-discriminatory, necessary, proportionate, and reasonable to protect public health) with the end in view of enabling better processing of applications for asylum or entry for onward resettlement. As regards resettlement, discussions are continuing on the operationalization of the pertinent mechamism, with the UNHCR and IOM. Moreover, the Philippines continues to closely study the CPath as an available and viable means for providing assistance through education and business training.

(It is requested that the above information not be shared and made publicly available.)

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Mr. Gorod Daful (Regional Lead-International Services, American Red Cross, USA)

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Mr. Gorod Daful (Regional Lead-International Services, American Red Cross, USA)

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The best practices in which refugees being integrated in the prevention and response to COVID-19 include:

Allowing all kinds refugees regardless of their ethnicity, national origin, faith, region, race or disability to equal opportunities to access the health services available. This will help them gain the opportunity to learn and practice the ways to prevent and also assist in the response of the COVID.

Also, creating an open discussion and communication with refugee individuals and populations and also the asylum seekers, can perhaps break the barriers  for inclusive consultation where even vulnerable kids and elderly may have the opportunity to better prevention and treatment of the COVID.

Refugees have community leaders who are responsible not only of their own families but also of the respective communities. In this regard, allowing them to be onboard in decision making process  will help the service provider to learn and know about cultural , religious and ethical challenges that otherwise will be difficult to know without them.

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Ms Gledis Miska (Lawyer, NGO Refugee and Migrant Service, Albania)

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Ms Gledis Miska (Lawyer, NGO Refugee and Migrant Service, Albania)

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COVID-19 pandemic has strongly affected the economy and changed lifestyle worldwide.  These come in addition to the many other difficulties already facing people who are forced to flee their homes and seek safety across borders in countries which may themselves be facing significant challenges.

In Albania the Covid – 19 quarantines, started on 11th March 2020, since then until the end of the quarantine RMSA’s staff implementing partner of UNHCR, worked remotely. The Borders were fully closed even for the asylum-seekers at the beginning of the pandemic. The Borders were opened gradually. The National Reception Centre for Asylum-seekers was closed as well. The asylum-seekers residing there could not go out of the centre. The government decided gradually to reduce the hours and the conditions of the quarantine. RMSA’s staff worked according to the regulations of the government.

Actions taken during the Covid-19 quarantine were as below:

- Working remotely with persons of concern.

- Availability 24/7.

- Preparation of different action plans anticipating any pandemic situation.

- Focus on health and economic issues.

- Getting permission of movement from state police for PoCs due to lack of the access at Albania Government portal, during the restriction of the movement.

- Informative session in and out of the National Reception Centre for Asylum-seekers regarding the regulations, health and measures to be taken due to covid-19.

- Leaflets in different language were distributed to PoCs.

In addition, were done daily video calls with persons of concern regarding their physical and mental health conditions. Their main concern was the financial situation due to the fact that many of them lost their job. Therefore, it was decided to assist the persons of concern with financial support according to a predetermined strategy. Persons of concern infected with Covid-19, were assisted with food package during all period of their quarantine, all the necessary medications needed for covid-19 were provided as well. PPE were delivered for all PoCs by monthly bases.

During this period RMSA has contacted several state instances on behalf of the well-being of the refugees and asylum-seekers.

Contacts were set with the Directorate of the Employment for the financial reimbursement of PoCs who had lost their jobs. Meetings were held with the Directorate of Public Health regarding the cases infected with covid – 19, in case that would be needed the hospitalization, this category could have access.

Placement of the refugees and asylum-seekers in the first beneficiary categories of vaccination was made possible as well because of these meetings with the Directorate of Public Health. Currently many of the asylum-seekers and refugees in Albania are fully vaccinated.

Children have also been a group that have faced particular risks  during  the  pandemic. Short  term  impacts

have included school closures, and risks of infection. Due to the school closures all the refugee children were assisted with portable PCs to attend online learning provided by the school. In addition, all the refugees and asylum-seekers who attended Albanian languange course were provided with portal PCs.

Even today, almost 2 years of covid -19 pandemic RMSA workis keeping in mind the rules and measures that the gavernment has related to covid -19. The mainf focus nawdays is the benefits of vaccsinations for corvid-19.

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Mr. George II Ortha (Chief State Counsel, Department of Justice, Philippines)

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Mr. George II Ortha (Chief State Counsel, Department of Justice, Philippines)

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Below are some of the best practices:

- Refugees were included in the vaccination program of the government.

- Coordination with relevant agencies of the government, including local government units, to include refugees in financial, health and social programs

- Assisted refugees to have them tested  for COVID-19 free of charge

- Assistance was provided to refugees to allow them to take licensure examination, which is generally allowed only to Filipino nationals.

- Assistance was provided to refugees who are health care professionals in obtaining license to  practice their profession, which is generally allowed only to Filipino nationals.

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Ms Génesis Brito (Administrative Assistant, General Directorate of Migration, Dominican Republic)

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Ms Génesis Brito (Administrative Assistant, General Directorate of Migration, Dominican Republic)

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- Non-discriminatory access to health, such as access to the Covid-19 vaccine for refugees and requestors of refuge.

- Release of asylum seekers from detention centres, to avoid the spreed of the virus.

- Facilitating fee testing for Covid-19.

- Ensuring access to territory while protecting public health.

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Ms Ga Young Shin (Case Manager, The First Contact for Refugee, Republic of Korea)

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Ms Ga Young Shin (Case Manager, The First Contact for Refugee, Republic of Korea)

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Refugees in South Korea are still more vulnerable under the pandemic. However, to give one good example, the Korean government is providing vaccines to undocumented residents without any disadvantage or forced departure. Many NGO groups provide accommodations to refugees. And preparing a way to receive help from refugees through non-face-to-face such as e-mail, Google form, and video conferencing.

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Ms Eve Asasira (Refugee Status Interviewing Officer, Department of Refugees, Office of the Prime Minister, Uganda)

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Ms Eve Asasira (Refugee Status Interviewing Officer, Department of Refugees, Office of the Prime Minister, Uganda)

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The best practices of refugees being integrated into the prevention and response to the pandemic include:

1. Refugees who have experience in the health sector are allowed to help and provide support to the health workers of the country in which they sought asylum. This is through helping the local and refugee patients affected by covid-19 by providing information and tips on how to stay healthy. They also refer all suspected people with covid-19 to their nearest clinic or health centre. Refugees that lack experience are trained to help the patients affected by Covid-19.

2.Refugees are allowed to help in the manufacture of equipment that helps in the fight against Covid-19. This is usually through refugees who work in factories to provide labour and help in the manufacture of soap. Other refugees who are equipped with tailoring skills can help to make face masks which are crucial in the fight against Covid-19

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Ms Evangelia Leonti (Protection Assistant, UNHCR, Greece)

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Ms Evangelia Leonti (Protection Assistant, UNHCR, Greece)

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IRC (International Rescue Committee), is present inside the Registration and Identification Center in Lesvos island, in Greece. They have  approximately 60 volunteers from the refugee community and residents of the Center.  IRC personnel are training  the group of the volunteers who are responsible for the following activities:

1. Conduction of awareness raising campaigns  in order to increase community’s awareness of measures to limit transmission of COVID-19.

2. Installation of washing hand stations for each family or single person.

3. Distribution of leaflets or conduction of info sessions regarding COVID-19, prevention measures, current restriction measures according to the legal framework.

4.      Present at washing hand stations inside the Camp, providing sanitizer, gloves and masks.

IRC provides to the volunteers in monthly basis a voucher that they can use it in various super markets.

There is another NGO named CMA ( Crisis Management Association), present inside the Registration and Identification Center, as well.  It is a medical organization, however, a lot of their staff in administrative positions are from the refugee community.  Their main task is conduct awareness raising campaigns regarding vaccination against COVID-19, support the vaccination procedure and help the vaccinated refugees to obtain the relevant certification.

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Ms Emmanouela Tsapouli (Protection Associate, UNHCR, Greece)

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Ms Emmanouela Tsapouli (Protection Associate, UNHCR, Greece)

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- Provide refugees and asylum seekers clear information about how they are included in COVID 19 national prevention and protection measures.

- Automatically extend their documentation so they continue to have access to services.

- Use online and remote technology to serve their urgent needs and continue with asylum procedures as much as possible.

- Use digital means and videos to keep refugees and a/s informed on measures concerning them whether on COVID or on procedures.

- Promote/fund digital communication and the use of social media in the refugee communities so that there is no social isolation and there is support among community members.

- Allow access to the territory and to the asylum procedure in an orderly, safe and controlled manner.

- Release a/s from administrative detention and use alternative detention means in order to decongest detention centres and promote health and safety in these spaces.

- Use private sector technology companies’ contributions to promote digital knowhow and available technologies to be made available for purposes of facilitating education for refugee, a/s children.

- Promote and multiply media stories with positive contributions from refugees in the time of the pandemic. For example refugees working in the health sector or in community help services or as volunteers to help a COVD 19 support measure.

- Permit and propose to refugees and a/s trained in health professions to work in state health services with HR shortages.

- Ask refugees themselves what particular challenges they face due to the pandemic in their host society and prioritise targeted response.

- Increase availability of helplines and remote support for victims of SGBV or trafficking.

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Ms Elisabeth Salum (Associate Legal Officer, UNHCR, Switzerland)

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Ms Elisabeth Salum (Associate Legal Officer, UNHCR, Switzerland)

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In some cases, technology, including social media has enabled refugees to maintain communication with communities that have been reaching out to them to ensure their continued involvement.

Instances where refugees and asylum seekers have been permitted to work in the health sector in their host communities where they've been able to make a positive contribution. In the Americas, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Columbia and Mexico have put in place measures to authorize the hiring of foreign-qualified health workers. In Mozambique, refugees with a relevant background will be able to apply as community health workers.

Opportunities to reinforce access to education, including through digital means, seeking to build digital literacy among students and parents, investments in digital infrastructure, seeking to make available open licensed school resources.

Retail: In Tanzania, MADE51 partner WomenCraft reacted decisively as soon as the first official  cases were reported, with artisans took a lead role in developing and implementing safety measures. They decided to shut down production centers to limit exposure and distributed pamphlets about the Coronavirus and best safety practices to all artisan members. Artisans now weave at home, drop off finished products at agreed-upon locations for collection and use what’s app to stay connected. They are opening an online shop.

In Jordan, as artisans take up working from home, the social enterprise has simultaneously worked to drive online sales, creating a ‘Stay at home, shop online’ campaign where 20USD from every sale is spent on hand sanitisers and disinfectants for Jerash camp.

In Kenya, India, Malaysia, Egypt, Turkey, and Thailand, refugee production of fabric masks has been observed in other UNHCR locations, including DRC, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Niger, Ukraine, Iran. In Cameroon, UNHCR has concluded an agreement with the government for the provision of 200,000 masks to be produced by 100 refugees in 10 refugee sites.

To undertake coaching, coaches/social promoters are in constant contact with the families through virtual media. Coaches assess the family needs and orientate them in current realities and laws imposed by the local governments to make sure that families understand the new realities.

https://www.unhcr.org/5ecfacab4.pdf

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Ms Eleni Pasia (Lawyer, Legal Unit Sub Coordinator, Greek Council for Refugees, Greece)

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Ms Eleni Pasia (Lawyer, Legal Unit Sub Coordinator, Greek Council for Refugees, Greece)

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- Asylum seekers living in the Reception and Identification Center on Chios island of Greece take action against covid-19 and make face masks for the residents of the Refugee Center:

https://www.unhcr.org/gr/en/17489-i-make-face-masks-because-i-care.html

- A refugee family in the Greek city of Trikala makes protective face masks and uniforms against covid-19 for the local community:

https://www.unhcr.org/gr/en/18641-helping-people-makes-our-heart-feel-full-a-refugee-family-in-trikala-makes-protective-masks-and-uniforms-for-the-local-community.html

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Ms Efharis Mascha (Head of Asylum Processes and Training Department, Greek Asylum Service, Greece)

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Ms Efharis Mascha (Head of Asylum Processes and Training Department, Greek Asylum Service, Greece)

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The pandemic created numerous issues related to international protection and respect of human rights. However, a set of good practices can foster another way to this development. Please see below what these practices can be:

1. Establishing remote interviews, so as for the population not to move around unsafely. This practice needs to be matched together with all the necessary safeguards an interview requires [confidentiality principle, respect of vulnerabilities, establish good conduct etc]

2. Vaccinating all the population irrespective of their legal status. Providing facilities within the camps for people to be vaccinated.

3. Free legal aid and means of providing this remotely

4. Giving access to the files of the asylum applicants via the use of Apps in a safe manner, so as to avoid their need for visiting the Asylum Service

5. Use the email of the applicants [again in a safe and confidential manner] as a means of correspondence and exchange of important information

6. Create hubs with computer facilities within the camps

7. Use as much technology as possible in order to avoid unnecessary transportation.

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Mr. Donavon Francis Jr. (Immigration Officer, Enforcement Department, Immigration Department, Turks and Caicos Island)

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Mr. Donavon Francis Jr. (Immigration Officer, Enforcement Department, Immigration Department, Turks and Caicos Island)

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Some practices may seem to hinder or impact the wider scope of migrants and may also seem as harsh or inconsiderable to these persons whom may seek better life or refugee protection or as such from other neighbouring or internationals states and countries.

The confinement and less movement due the fear of exposure and spread but also to protect ones health and well-being. Implementation of sanitary stations and testing sites made available and the readily vaccination programs.  The expelled practice of better hygiene.

Some countries display non-discriminatory actions towards refugees/migrants offering more than proportionate services during the pandemic and necessary health screening and other services and health ,personal hygiene and medical care products are more readily available than they once were.

Overall the pandemic has proven and publicized for some states the real treatment of migrants than others not to discriminate, however some has proven less services and treatment or honouring the rights of these displaced persons.

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Ms Daniela Rondina (Development Officer, Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance, United Kingdom)

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Ms Daniela Rondina (Development Officer, Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance, United Kingdom)

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- Data gathering to identify refugees and asylum seekers during the pandemic, attention to the needs of particularly vulnerable groups such as disabled people.

- Flexible asylum processes with virtual interviews/forms.

- Health plan focussed on the refugee population, assuring them access public health.

- Virtual local volunteers  programme to welcome refugees/asylum seekers.

- Host country language’s lessons online.

- Vaccination campaign specific to the refugee population (addressing their concerns and in their language).

- Safe water, masks, and sanitation resources.

- Food security (gardening initiative, donations, and partnerships).

- Educational virtual programs for refugee children. Providing them with laptops in order for them to access virtual education.

- WASH (UN) training for refugees so they can train their communities with basic sanitation and hygiene.

- International committee that observes/sends rapporteurs to prevent governments rejecting refugees using the pandemic as an excuse.

- Government/UN advice in refugees’ languages.

- Virtual mental health support, focussing on lived experience.

- Wellbeing virtual workshops.

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Mr. Daniel Ryf (Policy Adviser, Swiss State Secretariat for Migration SEM, Switzerland)

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Mr. Daniel Ryf (Policy Adviser, Swiss State Secretariat for Migration SEM, Switzerland)

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1) Switzerland provides all migrants regardless of status access to health care services, including Covid-19 vaccionation. All persons in Switzerland have been included in the national protection/containment plans.

2) Switzerland has taken different measures in accordance with social distancing and hygiene rules in the federal asylum centers, i.e. reducing the number of occupants. A constant exchange of information takes place with the asylum seekers to ensure a general understanding of the situation and of the measures of precaution.

3) Switzerland has given priority to information and hygiene campaigns which are cognizant of the foreign born population – including refugees. The State Secretariat for Migration and the Office of Public Health produced multi-lingual materials on COVID-19 available in over 20 languages. A close collaboration with migrant organizations and media helps to ensure effective dissemination of the materials.

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Ms Clarissa Dudenhoeffer (Information Management Officer, UNHCR, Switzerland)

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Ms Clarissa Dudenhoeffer (Information Management Officer, UNHCR, Switzerland)

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- In the Americas, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Cuba and Mexico have authorized the hiring of foreign-qualified health workers. In Europe, similar measures were implemented in many countries, such as in France and Germany. More details can be found here.

- The Council of Europe and UNHCR are supporting EU member states in bringing refugee health workers into the COVID-19 response through the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR).

- In the US, six have made it easier for refugees, immigrants and migrants trained overseas to practice medicine – at least during the crisis – by expediting or easing residency and licensing requirements.

- In Peru, UNHCR has shared a database of 1,216 Venezuelan health professionals with the Ministry of Health and facilitated the recognition of qualifications of some 146 health professionals, and the hiring of at least 60 of them within public and private health entities.

- In the UK, the accreditation of doctors who gained qualifications overseas was expedited to support the British health system tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

- In Cameroon, refugees and members of host communities who were taught how to sew made over 89,000 masks.

- In Bangladesh, trained community health workers – all of them Rohingya refugees – refer suspected COVID-19 patients in the settlements for testing and care.

More country examples can be found here.

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Ms Binu Lama (Programme Coordinator/Lawyer, Forum for Women, Law and Development, Nepal)

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Ms Binu Lama (Programme Coordinator/Lawyer, Forum for Women, Law and Development, Nepal)

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Refugees and migrants may also experience challenges because of their highly insecure living conditions and lifestyles and can suffer discrimination, poverty, poor housing and education, poor employment practices, often without access to essential health and other services. Despite global efforts, they may also suffer poor access to COVID-19 vaccines. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us the consequences of vulnerability, with increased rates of infection and deaths amongst the poor and the disadvantaged, including refugees and migrants. Evidence suggests that during the COVID-19 pandemic, refugees and migrants have experienced high levels of xenophobia, racism and stigmatization. All these vulnerabilities have been further exacerbated by public health control measures and border closures.

WHO has developed agreed policies and interventions to promote and secure health rights for refugees and migrants. The 2019 WHO Global Action Plan: Promoting the health of refugees and migrants (GAP) provides a comprehensive overview of strategic actions aligned with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. To help countries to promote the health of refugees and migrants, WHO is committed to developing norms, standards, guidance and tools on health and vii migration, and to promoting a research agenda to generate evidence to support decision-making. There is a strong need to enhance research efforts to better understand the global trends and implications of migration and health, as well as how to address the related needs.

Many governments, most notably in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and north Africa, have adapted their national asylum procedures in order to ensure compliance with social distancing and other prevention measures . The adaptive measures include remote or online submission of asylum applications and the use of video-conferencing or phone interviews, automatic or remote extension of validity of asylum documents, and adjustments to facilities in accordance with public health guidelines.

A broad range of adaptation policies have been taken by countries with the view of mitigating the manifold consequences of COVID-19 for foreigners already residing. Refugees and migrants in times of COVID-19: mapping trends of public health and migration policies and practices in their territories. Beyond the broad variety of adaptation policies adopted by governments, the overall pattern highlights five practices: extension of visas, residence and work permits; facilitation of access to the labour market in essential sectors; regularization of undocumented migrants; release of migrants and asylum seekers from detention centres and suspension of forced returns.

The overall pattern of national policies on health-care coverage and accessibility of services shows that many countries recognize the necessity to provide equal access to health care to the whole population, including refugees and migrants. Some countries, however, continue providing medical services for fees or with a requirement of further reimbursement. In some countries free access to health care for refugees and migrants is guaranteed under national legislation but is not always provided in reality.

A number of countries have also taken a variety of measures to improve protection and decrease the virus transmission in refugee camps and camp-like settings of migrants.

A number of countries have launched initiatives to increase migrant workers’ protection in the time of COVID-19. Such measures fall into two main groups. The first group includes short-term solutions, such as providing protection equipment and other preventive measures at the workplace. The second group related to mid- and long-term solutions and implies involvement of health insurance and social protection policies. Migrant workers can face a number of challenges in accessing quality health care, including a lack of health insurance because of legal status or financial obstacles.

Some positive dynamics of cooperation between countries and international organizations regarding the inclusion of refugees and migrants. Some countries have confirmed that refugees and migrants will be included in national vaccination plans.

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Ms Biljana Radeva (Spokeswomen, Deputy Secretary General, Office of the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, North Macedonia)

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Ms Biljana Radeva (Spokeswomen, Deputy Secretary General, Office of the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, North Macedonia)

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- Facilitating access to the means to issue labour and student visas for migrants and refugees;

- COVID-19 put a strain on health sectors in almost every country fighting the coronavirus. There have been countries which recognised the contribution that refugees and asylum seekers could make and allowed those who may have been trained in their home countries to contribute as scientists, doctors, nurses, auxiliary staff and care workers to contribute to the health emergency response;

- Acknowledgement that non-discriminatory access to services and treatment reduces public health risks;

- Providing health system services to all; Universal healthcare allows to strengthen the response to the COVID pandemic by not excluding migrant communities and controlling the spread of the virus;

- Making testing available for asylum seekers and refugees;

- Enhanced communication with migrant communities, providing information in many languages which allows communication to reach to as many people as possible in order to help with limiting the spread of the coronavirus, sharing accurate information and contributing to prevention efforts in their communities;

- Refugees setting support groups to help older people and cooking meals for health care workers on the front lines of fighting the pandemic;

- Migrant needs integrated in the national health plans and financing

- Including migrants in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign and process

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Mr. Arnel Talisayon (Deputy Assistant Secretary and Executive Director, Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines)

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Mr. Arnel Talisayon (Deputy Assistant Secretary and Executive Director, Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippines)

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The Philippines is currently discussing with the UNHCR and IOM a mechanism precisely meant to ensure that the welfare and safety of refugees continue to be upheld and protected even during the pandemic.

There have already been several rounds of discussion and, because of the sensitive nature of the ongoing talks, I am unable to offer detailed information and specifically request that this information not be shared with other participants until appropriate clearance is received at later, more appropriate time.

It is worth pointing out that the discussions involve all concerned agencies (e.g., immigration, health and quarantine, and foreign affairs, among others) and seek to ensure clarity in the procedure for, and treatment of, refugees despite the challenges associated with the pandemic, including those related to entry protocols, quarantine measures and access to services.

Finally, I note that the Philippines has made an announcement that its doors are open to Afghan refugees—an announcement backed by action as the country has already accepted some of them and will, in line with its policy of providing shelter to those who need it, continue to do so.

I respectfully reiterate my request not to share this submission with other participants. Thank you.

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Ms Aretha M. B. Divine (Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission, Liberia)

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Ms Aretha M. B. Divine (Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission, Liberia)

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The COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges during the period of integration since its outbreak. However, some measures  to be put in place for the protection of Refugee as it relates to integration and the different concerns: The Ministry of Health in Liberia has advise on the health protocol that: all observe social distancing, wear on mask, wash hands frequently, avoid crowded environment. By these instruction, with the COVID-19 challenges, there should be some measures put in place as follow:

1.      Health

- Distribute hand sanitizer and Noise mask

- Educate the Refugee and host Communities how to use it and why they should use it.

- That Refugee leaving the camp to go out should be encourage to put on mask and use the sanitizer always

- NGOs working in camps are also encouraged to wear on mask and used the sanitizer as frequently or every one coming  in and going out of  camp should wash his/her hands as well.

2.      National concerns

- Some Countries borders  closed,  which can also  impede  movement of integration.

- Work force downside in observance of the health protocol at Refugee agencies/Commission.

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Mr. Antosh Pradhan (Section Officer, Ministry of Home Affairs, Nepal)

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Mr. Antosh Pradhan (Section Officer, Ministry of Home Affairs, Nepal)

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Nepal houses close to twenty thousand Bhutanese and Tibetan refugees and close to around one thousand people of different nationality seeking refuge. Nepal have always understood that the risk for COVID -19 is same for all. It doesn’t matter if you are refugees or not. Until everyone safe we have no choice but to remain alert. I strongly believe Government of Nepal has shown outstanding leadership in the Asia pacific region for public health responses by including refugees in national vaccination drive. This I believe can be regarded as one of the best practices of refugees being integrated in the prevention and response to the pandemic.

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Ms Aimara Pujadas (International Cooperation Specialist, Cuban Office of the City´s Historian, Cuba)

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Ms Aimara Pujadas (International Cooperation Specialist, Cuban Office of the City´s Historian, Cuba)

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Adapting the asylum systems to the realities of COVID-19 in order to continue to identify and protect persons in need of international protection and prevent the creation of unmanageable case backlogs. Introduction of measures for the automatic or remote renewal of asylum-seeker and refugee documentation, remote registration and interviews, and prioritization of certain cases.

H&M – which joined the TENT Partnership for Refugees at the GRF and pledged to create 2,000 jobs for refugees by 2025 – opened its social media channels to UNHCR to share important messages with its millions of followers around the world. Microsoft – which made an education pledge at the GRF – set up a campaign on Benevity (a giving platform) to raise awareness and ask for donations for UNHCR’s response, which it will match. In Ecuador, Corporacion Favorita (a supporter of the GRF via Fundela Fundacion) donated 2,000 food kits for vulnerable families. In Colombia, Oro Molida Coffee provided USD 12,000 in support of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Antioquia region. UNHCR’s Private Sector Partnership Service (PSP) is also exploring opportunities for in-kind donations of health supplies, including from companies that participated in the GRF. Lastly, conversations are ongoing with platforms/networks such as the International Chamber of Commerce and World Economic Forum.

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Ms Ai Odoriba (Humanitarian Affairs Officer, UNOCHA, Lebanon)

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Ms Ai Odoriba (Humanitarian Affairs Officer, UNOCHA, Lebanon)

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As part of the COVID-19 risk communications and community engagement in Lebanon, Syrian refugees were involved in related activities as volunteers or employees of the organization providing related service/assistance, such as awareness sessions, trainings and vaccination campaigns. This involved wide-ranging process, starting with the planning of a project. Involving refugees from the beginning of the project, as well as throughout the project implementation period, will give them the sense of ownership and at the same time encourage other refugees to actively involved in the given activities. Importantly, this is matter of accountability to the affected population. This best practice particularly helped the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in a community where vaccine hesitancy was prevalent. Having refugees who were vaccinated in the initial phase of the project and showcasing them in communication materials, such as promotion video, is one of the effective ways to encourage vaccination among refugee communities.