Migrants in Asia-Pacific at higher risk of Covid-19 -- UN report

BANGKOK (Dec 19): The Covid-19 pandemic and its socio-economic fallout pose great risks to migrants in the Asia-Pacific, said a United Nations (UN) report.

The Asia-Pacific Migration Report 2020, released yesterday, said the inclusion of migrants in vaccination programmes, including migrants in irregular situations, will be critical.

It said migrants are more likely to be exposed to the virus, lack access to health care and other essential services, be stranded in countries without work or social protection, and face rising xenophobia.

However, the report said that migrants – as essential workers and remittance providers –  are also key to recovering better.

“Unlike nationals, migrants have generally not been included in social security provisions like unemployment insurance or income support. Migrants have also been disproportionately affected by border closures and lockdowns, leaving many vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

“This exclusion of migrants poses major threats to their human rights and well-being. Poverty reduction efforts in the region are likely to be affected too as will the effort to build stronger, more inclusive and resilient communities.

“Migrant remittances to the Asia-Pacific region, which rose from US$183 billion in 2009 to US$330 billion (RM1.3 trillion) in 2019, have declined due to the COVID-19 outbreak, leaving many households of migrants without a major source of income,” it said.

The Asia-Pacific Migration Report 2020 is produced by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and the Regional United Nations Network on Migration for Asia-Pacific.

The report said the international migration from, to and between Asia-Pacific countries has grown over the past 30 years to 65 million in 2019.

It said the number of migrants in the region has grown from 52 million in 1990 to 65 million, representing a quarter of the global international migrant stock of 272 million in 2019.

“Almost 107 million people from Asia and the Pacific lived outside their countries of birth in 2019 – equivalent to 2.2 per cent of the region’s total population, the largest single region of origin of migrants in the world. Most recorded migrants are migrant workers, contributing to sustainable development in countries of origin and destination,” it said.

Get the latest news @ www.EdgeProp.my

Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates 

Click here for more property stories