International Migrants Day: Affects of COVID 19 on Migration
December 18th is International Migrants Day, a day to highlight the contributions made by the many migrants worldwide and the challenges they face. A migrant is a person who makes a life changing decision to leave their home country to seek new, and often times better, opportunities. Migration has occurred throughout history and has increased, especially with advancement of communications, transportation and globalization.
What would make a family or individual decide to leave a country they call home? The reasons are endless. While many migrants may leave by choice for work opportunities, to further education or join family, there are others that may move as a method to flee conflict, persecution, terrorism, acute poverty, human rights violations, in response to adverse effects of climate change, natural disasters, or other environmental factors. With a surplus of people moving around the world, there are different terms to classify people. Often times the term migrants can be confused with refugees or internally displaced people. It is very important to note the differences. A migrant chooses to move in hopes to improve their lives, while a refugee has no choice in the matter. Staying in their home country poses a direct threat of persecution or death. Refugees cross international borders seeking safety in other countries, while internally displaced people also seek safety by moving, while still staying within the borders of their home country.
In 2019, the number of international migrants reached 272 million; 33 million of them were children. “Among the world’s migrants are nearly 29 million refugees and asylum seekers who have been forcibly displaced from their own countries. An additional 41 million people in 2018 were internally displaced due to conflict and violence, an estimated 17 million of whom were children.” (UNICEF)
Migrant children endure many struggles as they have to seek new and better opportunities. The Save the Children programmatic priority on “Children on the Move” focuses on these children and supports them to ensure their transition is a smooth one. First, preparation is in place to leave their country of origin; followed by support on the route to ensure a safe and dignified journey; and then integration upon their arrival at the destination or in their own country if they have been forced to return.
Migrant children may endure a lot mentally, emotionally and physically. Many migrant children see horrific things on their journey and are often times separated from their parents or caregivers. For example in 2018 approximately 89,000 unaccompanied children and adolescents were detained on the borders of the United States and Mexico and more recently, this past October, more than 2000 unaccompanied children made a horrific journey from West Africa to the Canary islands via ship. These children have been subjected to things no child should have to see, from death, illness, violence and trauma which will leave lasting psychological scars. These children are in need of support and care, which are the core of the realization of their rights.
This year, as the COVID 19 pandemic brought many challenges to the global community, it particularly brought unique challenges to the migrant population. Firstly, travel restrictions across the globe made is harder for movement and entry into specific countries. Many migrants travel via inadequate methods, and live in temporary crowded housing which can make them more vulnerable to contracting infectious disease like COVID 19. In addition, migrant populations can be very hard to reach and share valuable information about safety during the pandemic, due to language and cultural barriers.
With the numerous amount of business closures due to the pandemic, work opportunities are scarce, which leave many new migrants without income and ability to provide basic necessities. The pandemic also has limited the movement of food and necessary resources into areas. The Save the Children project, Beyond Borders: El Mundo es mi Hogar, distributed food vouchers to Venezualan migrant families in informal settlements in Colombia. Having access to food and basic needs allows these families to begin to start their new life and rebuild their sense of home.
The pandemic has caused numerous school closures, and has led to an education emergency, with an entire generation of children out of school and not learning. For migrant children this crisis is only heightened due to language, cultural barriers, as well as often stigma and discrimination in their new home country. Many migrant children living in improvised situations depend on school not only for learning but for nourishing meals, fostering inclusion and a sense of community, or accessing protection services when needed. With no access to school, these benefits disappear.
When a person decides to migrate we must remember that it is truly a courageous act. Deciding to make the life altering decision to leave home is an expression of an individuals desire to overcome adversity and conflict. Today on International Migrant’s Day, we honour the brave journey many of these men, women, boys and girls make to start a new life. We also celebrate the vibrancy and richness many migrants bring with them through their desires, ideas and cultures into the new countries, like Canada, they decide to call their new homes.
Sources:
https://migrationdataportal.org/themes/child-and-young-migrants
https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-migration-and-displacement/migration/
https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/migration/index.html
https://www.csis.org/analysis/five-ways-covid-19-changing-global-migration