The containment measures have destroyed the means of subsistence in many countries and could lead to millions of additional people into poverty.
The economic balance sheet of the devastating pandemic of Covid-19 in the world are likely to trigger new waves of migration once the borders reopened, warned the head of the Red Cross. “We are increasingly seeing, in many countries, the side effects of the pandemic on the livelihoods and food situation,” said Jagan Chapagain, general secretary of the international Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies (IFRC).
containment measures and border closures put in place to stop the virus have destroyed the livelihoods of populations in many countries and could lead to millions of additional people into poverty. “We hear some people say they must choose between the virus and the hunger” is concerned about Jagan Chapagain, adding: “many of the people who lose their livelihoods may feel forced to move once the borders will be open”.
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“It is, therefore, not be surprised to see a massive increase in migration in the months and years to come,” he stressed. Calling for international support urgently needed to “relieve despair”, he pointed out that, beyond the moral imperative, the economic arguments were also taken into account. “The cost of the care of migrants in transit and when they reach the country of destination is much higher than support people in their livelihoods, their education and their health needs in their own countries”, he pointed.
Migrate to the vaccine
Jagan Chapagain, head of the IFRC since February, is also a concern that the inequalities in health in the face of the pandemic will push more people to migrate. “People may feel they have better chances of survival on the other side of the sea,” he argues, adding that another important factor of these trips would be “the availability of vaccines.” The world health Organization (WHO) is for a “universal access, timely and equitable” to future vaccines. But some countries are engaged in a race to the vaccines, to the image of the United States who have pre-ordered millions of doses.
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“If people see that the vaccine, for example, is available in Europe but not in Africa, what will happen? They will want to go to a place where vaccines are available”, explained the Nepalese. Looking ahead, with nearly 200 candidate vaccines are in development, including a score in the clinical phase, i.e. tested in humans. But even if some hope that a vaccine that is safe and effective can be found yet this year, it will take much longer time to produce enough for everyone.
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Jagan Chapagain has recently condemned the efforts by certain countries to ensure that their population is the first vaccinated. Stressing that “the virus crosses the borders”, he said that immunize only the population of a country without vaccinating other at the same time “simply has no meaning.”
