Open AccessManaging the Refugee Crisis in the Era of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author(s) -
Mahmood Monshipouri,
Burcu Akan Ellis,
Cassidy Renee Yip Yip
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
insight turkey
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.157
H-Index - 20
eISSN - 2564-7717
pISSN - 1302-177X
DOI - 10.25253/99.2020224.11
Subject(s) - refugee , pandemic , argument (complex analysis) , covid-19 , political science , rhetoric , political economy , development economics , economic growth , outbreak , criminology , public relations , sociology , law , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , virology , economics , medicine , linguistics , philosophy , pathology
This essay seeks to demonstrate that there are both ethical and practical considerations for enabling refugees to manage the coronavirus disease (COVID-19 pandemic). Given that a majority of refugees live in highly congested environments, particularly urban areas, an outbreak would swiftly spread through their local communities. Our argument is twofold: (i) That a new approach is needed to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic –one that recognizes mounting challenges facing refugees and relies on international cooperation rather than the myopic rhetoric and sentiments of xenophobic right-wing politicians; (ii) That helping refugees to curb the spread of the current coronavirus cannot be divorced from social contexts, hence the necessity of improving employment, basic health services, and educational opportunities for refugees.