The COVID-19 pandemic and challenges for the health care of migrants and refugees

As SARS-CoV-2 spread rapidly worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the global community in terms of loss of human life, wellbeing, lifestyle and economy. Challenges to meet the public health needs and to provide care for vulnerable populations and groups, including migrants and refugees, focus on the health, socio-economic and humanitarian aspects. In the socio-economic crisis, migrants and refugees may be further marginalized and forced to live in unsafe conditions, and they face barriers in accessing the public health and social services in their host countries. Because of their living conditions, they have difficulties in implementing the basic hygiene practices needed for the prevention of some diseases. In addition, from the humanitarian view, migrants and refugees worldwide often face the risk of social stigma, which is exacerbated in crisis situations such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. The health of migrants and refugees during a crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond, is directly linked to the health of the host country's population, and to the sustainability of the country's health services and the safety and protection systems, which need to be reorganized and adapted to the changing social environment.