As of 17 April, Iraq reported 1434 confirmed COVID-19 cases (80 deaths) in all governorates or state. On average there are about 20 to 30 new cases a day. With no true end in sight to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, and developed countries struggling to move past this event; it has been easy to forget about the thousands of refugees whose lives were in limbo even before the crisis struck.
In the Kurdistan region of Iraq, around 7,000 migrants (half being children) arrived to the region after fleeing the conflict in Syria. This was in late 2019, at this point UNICEF provided water, sanitary supplies, mental health resources and education supplies. The biggest challenge was being able to assist children who weren't with parents; being able to provide and care for them while giving them some sense of normalcy in their lives.
With the Coronavirus wreaking havoc across the globe, UNICEF has had to refocus their efforts; to plan for an emergency within an emergency. Financial resources have been reallocated to focus on prevention and response activities in this camp. Efforts to educate refugee populations on social distancing and reinforce hygiene protocols are the main tools used in these camps. “In a public health emergency, information can save lives. A key priority for UNICEF is ensuring children, young people and their families have access to accurate information on how to protect themselves and their loved ones during the pandemic,” said Hamida Lasseko, UNICEF’s Representative in Iraq.
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