COVID-19 and migrant and displaced children
What local governments can do
About
This document aims at providing guidelines to the local governments to:
- Include migrant and displaced children in preparedness, response, and mitigation efforts for COVID-19.
- Advocate proactively against xenophobia, stigma, and discrimination
- Provide accessible, timely, culturally and linguistically appropriate, child-friendly and relevant information on COVID-19 to children and families on the move.
- Ensure universal access to COVID-19 testing, healthcare, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and other essential services, for all those who need them
- Ensure clean water, basic toilets and good hygiene practices are also available for migrant and displaced children and families, when transiting or for those living in camps and in urban areas.
- Support and advocate for safer living and housing conditions to allow for social distancing, including in shelters, refugee and IDP camps.
- Pay special attention to children and families who are currently detained and continue advocating to end child immigration detention.
- Implement education strategies for continued learning for all children - including those who are migrants or displaced – and make schools safe, healthy, and inclusive environments.
- Expand social protection to minimize the economic impact of COVID-19 on families
