June 20, 2020

On World Refugee Day, we must support migration health

June 20, 2020

On World Refugee Day, we must support migration health

There are more displaced peoples in Nigeria—over two million—than the populations of Ilorin, Abuja and even Benin City. The scale of this situation in Nigeria is a tragedy for our people and our economy.

At home in Nigeria, the conditions being faced by our population of concern are an increased cause for alarm and focused action within our COVID-19 response strategies – Nigeria is facing immense humanitarian and protection challenges due to the ongoing insurgency in the North East. The conflict has caused grave human rights violations, impacting particularly on the most vulnerable civilians.

According to the UNHCR, as of May 2020, there are 2,046,604 internally displaced persons in the Northeast region, with 90% of the displacements in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. Outside of the Northeast an estimated 578,119 people are displaced due to banditry and farmer-herders conflict. There are 61,361 registered refugees and asylum seekers as of April 2020, with 60% located in Cross Rivers, 21% in Taraba, 12% in Benue and 6% registered in Lagos whom are classified as urban refugees and asylum seekers. There are a further 292,513 Nigerian Refugees in our neighbouring countries of Niger (55%), Cameroon (40%), and Chad (5%).

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In summary, as of May this year, the total number of people attributed to Nigeria’s existing population of concern stood at 2,107,965. More than 61,000 were registered as refugees and asylum seekers, and the significant remainder originating from neighbouring nations were identified as internally displaced persons (IDP).

The spectrum of challenges that refugees and displaced persons face is very broad: they may be traumatised, having lost homes, livelihoods and identities. However, when the host communities have strong systems in place, the suffering is mitigated, and the road to recovery can begin.

I have always felt that refugees should have health rights guaranteed in any host location, and health-enhanced certifiable identities. The United Kingdom, Greece and Turkey support the health of refugees effectively, with the help of the World Health Organisation, which works closely with government health departments to provide culturally and linguistically sensitive health services to refugees. That’s why in February I was pleased to attend the launch of the Lancet Migration, a collaboration of researchers in migration and health who are building evidence to drive policy change in this area.

I’ve been involved with helping to provide aid to many refugee camps in Northern Nigeria, and I’ve come to the understanding that ensuring health care should be standard in supporting the dignity of displaced persona.

On World Refugee Day today, I commit to working with Lancet Migration, and call for attention on the rights of refugees in relation to accessibility to health care.

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