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I T S
 
How IOM is Helping on the Ground
Since January, and in line with WHO recommendations, IOM’s global workforce has been mobilized across the world, drawing down on decades of experience, most recently with the Ebola epidermic and working with dozens of governments to plan their responses and save lives as the global health crisis evolves into the most significant mobility crisis ever.

IOM’s strategic response focuses on reaching the vulnerable and building operational capacities to address the mobility dimensions of this pandemic. These actions include:

Risk communication and community engagement activities, by leveraging community networks to ensure public health information is communicated in accessible and culturally appropriate ways to the most vulnerable, including migrants, regardless of status. These have been undertaken in a number of countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Greece and Yemen. In Greece, IOM has conducted information sessions in mainland camps for migrants, translating government information, as well as distributing additional supplies.
 
Cross-border coordination and capacity building to strengthen health surveillance at entry and exit points (airports, seaports and land border crossings) in dozens of states, including along Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan and Iran. IOM is providing a daily Global Mobility Restriction Overview, as well as Country-Level Restriction Mapping, outlining new and complex travel restriction measures to support colleagues across the organization.
 
Crisis coordination to facilitate information exchange between stakeholders. In some European countries, such as Greece, Malta and Norway, IOM is in close and regular contact with government counterparts to coordinate next steps. In Belgium, IOM has set up a crisis management team with the government to ensure no person is left behind.
 
Trainings for government employees; IOM has previously undertaken trainings on Standard Operating Procedures at point of entry during health emergencies in the context of Ebola response, in Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Senegal. This is can be extended to address COVID-19 operational needs and be done virtually.
 
Population mobility mapping exercises to anticipate needs and prioritise measures by layering information about travel restrictions, points of entry status, airlines and the status of stranded migrants, in collaboration with WHO. These have been undertaken in several countries, including Mongolia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Rwanda and Tanzania. It is important that governments and frontline response teams have a solid understanding of population movements and mobility dynamics so vulnerable groups can be reached in a timely manner.
 
Enhanced surveillance, and WASH services at entry points. IOM is increasing water access and hygiene measures at scale across its operations, to minimise the risk of contagion. In other locations, and across Asia, all US-bound migrants undergoing health checks at IOM centres receive information, hand sanitizer and tissues.

Cross-border coordination and capacity building to strengthen health surveillance at entry and exit points (airports, seaports and land border crossings) in dozens of states, including along Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan and Iran. IOM is providing a daily Global Mobility Restriction Overview, as well as Country-Level Restriction Mapping, outlining new and complex travel restriction measures to support colleagues across the organization.
 
Crisis coordination to facilitate information exchange between stakeholders. In some European countries, such as Greece, Malta and Norway, IOM is in close and regular contact with government counterparts to coordinate next steps. In Belgium, IOM has set up a crisis management team with the government to ensure no person is left behind.
 
Trainings for government employees; IOM has previously undertaken trainings on Standard Operating Procedures at point of entry during health emergencies in the context of Ebola response, in Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Senegal. This is can be extended to address COVID-19 operational needs and be done virtually.
Temporary suspension of IOM’s resettlement programming, in coordination with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Resettlement, however, remains a life-saving tool for many refugees. IOM and UNHCR are working with states to ensure movements can continue for the most critical emergency cases wherever possible.
 
Scale-back and/or suspension of a number of migration health assessment programmes, visa application programmes, and operational reduction of family reunification and humanitarian visa programmes. Where operations continue, IOM has adopted a number of precautionary measures, including the development of specific Standard Operating Procedures for COVID-19, health education and counselling for migrants, and strengthening of pre-embarkation checks.
 
Virtual counselling for migrants and virtual training sessions for migrants’ associations. In many European countries, IOM has set-up remote communication mechanisms to inform migrants, especially those interested to return home, about the general situation and current restrictions to movements.