With coronavirus now present in every country worldwide, the world’s 71 million refugees and forcibly displaced people are among the most exposed and vulnerable. For people who fled wars and persecution, the impact on their mostly hand-to-mouth existence and on their hosts has been devastating.
While no outbreaks in refugee and internally displaced camps and settlements have so far been reported, UNHCR is rapidly responding in 134 refugee-hosting countries that are reporting local transmission. Our teams around the world are preparing fast and bracing for the worst.
In order to do this, UNHCR has called for an extra $490 million as part of the UN’s revised $6.7bn appeal for COVID-19.
This will help UNHCR to further strengthen national health and sanitation systems, provide vital protection services and ramp up cash assistance for the most vulnerable.
Together with our partners, UNHCR is determined to stay the course and deliver for refugees, internally displaced, stateless people, and their hosts, and ensure their inclusion in public health responses and social safety nets.
Additional guidance documents are available in the left hand menu while country specific details on their operational pages.
For any inquiries, please contact the UNHCR Partnership Section, hqng00 @ unhcr.org.
In Latin America which accounts for nearly half of the deaths and cases worldwide, the combination of the hurricane season in the north of Central America and COVID-19 is exacerbating humanitarian needs. To combat these emergencies, UNHCR in El Salvador, together with the joint response team provided aid to 1,150 communities and information to 1.2 million people, while in Guatemala, UNHCR delivered bulk beds and mattresses to shelters. | |
22 Jun 2020 | |
UNHCR’s Global Trends for 2019 reports that forced displacement now affects more than one per cent of humanity – 1 in every 97 people – and fewer and fewer are able to return home. COVID-19 exacerbates their situation even more, as it has an unprecedented global social and economic impact and is also affecting asylum systems. Under the theme ‘Everyone can make a difference, Every Action Counts’, UNHCR marked World Refugee Day on 20 June 2020. | |
20 Jun 2020 | |
UNHCR has embarked in new cash-based interventions in 40 countries and scaled up its existing cash assistance in 25 operations. Cash assistance helps to bridge the gap between the initial socio-economic impact of the pandemic and the time it takes to install national and international safety nets. | |
15 Jun 2020 |
COVID-19: Global COVID-19 Emergency Response Situation Report #12 |
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Latest update on UNHCR’s response to the COVID-19 emergency | |
UNHCR Southern Africa COVID-19 Update | |
As of 18 June 2020 | |
UNHCR Asia and the Pacific COVID-19 Update | |
As of 17 June 2020 | |
UNHCR East and Horn of Africa and Great Lakes COVID-19 Update | |
As of 17 June 2020 | |
UNHCR Europe Regional COVID-19 Update | |
As of 18 June 2020 | |
UNHCR MENA Regional COVID-19 Update | |
As of 17 June 2020 | |
UNHCR West & Central Africa COVID-19 Update | |
As of 17 June 2020 | |
UNHCR Americas COVID-19 Update | |
As of 19 June 2020 |
Date of Funding Data | 2 June 2020 (26 days ago) |
A) Global Compact on Refugees | |
Pledges and good practices related to health care, water, sanitation and hygiene | |
B) Global Focus - COVID-19 situation | |
UNHCR's Information Hub with updates for donors and supporters | |
C) IASC COVID-19 Outbreak Readiness and Response | |
IASC guidance and updates | |
D) Protection - CBP Community of Practice (Global) | |
Community of Practices for Community-based protection and engagement | |
E) Protection - CBP Tools West Africa | |
Communications with Communities tools and Practices | |
F) Education in COVID-19 | |
Resources and tools for learning | |
G) WASH | |
Guidance and resources on WASH activities | |
I) CCCM Cluster on COVID-19 | |
Cluster guidance for field operations | |
J) Shelter Cluster on COVID-19 | |
Cluster guidance for field operations | |
K) Global Information Management, Assessment & Analysis Cell on COVID-19 (GIMAC) | |
Humanitarian multi-stakeholder initiative by several UN organizations and international NGO partners |