IOM Regional Office for Middle East and North Africa COVID-19 Response – Situation Report 5 (2 9 May – 1 0 June 2020)
Key Regional Updates
- As of 9 June, a total of 358,210 confirmed cases and 4,476 deaths associated with COVID-19 have been reported. The COVID-19 case load has increased by 43.9 per cent since 28 May 2020.
- No significant changes were recorded in the MENA region on the operations status of border crossing points during the last two weeks. To date, according to IOM’s Tracking Mobility Impact, around 68 per cent of monitored international airports are closed and 27 per cent are partially operational.
Almost 60 per cent of monitored land border crossing points are closed with 35 per cent partially operational and only one classified as fully operational. A total of 61 per cent of the region’s monitored blue border crossing points are fully closed and 32 per cent are partially operational in the region, while two blue border crossing points are considered fully operational for passengers. - Through the Regional RCCE Working Group led by the World Health Organization (WHO), IOM MENA Regional Office contributed to develop the RCCE guideline entitled “COVID-19: How Can Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Include Marginalized and Vulnerable People in the Eastern Mediterranean Region” which highlights particular vulnerabilities of sub-population groups such as migrants to COVID-19 and ways to include them in RCCE.
- IOM continues to provide mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) to vulnerable communities and migrant populations. This aims to help individuals cope with the psychological impacts of COVID-19 related to increased vulnerabilities and confinement.
- IOM continues to advocate for universal health coverage for displaced persons and migrants to be fully included in the national COVID-19 response regardless of their legal status, counter xenophobia and “infodemic” to discriminate and stigmatize displaced persons and migrants.