IOM MENA Region COVID 19 Response - Situation Report 4 (14 May - 28 May 2020)

- As of 29 May there are a total of 249,806 confirmed cases in the region representing a 91.1 per cent increase in the regional caseload since May 13. 

- To date, according to IOM’s Tracking Mobility Impact, around 68 per cent of monitored international airports are fully closed and 30 per cent are partially operational. Almost 60 per cent of monitored land border crossing points are totally closed while 38 per cent are only partially operational. Additionally, only two blue border crossing points in the Syrian Arab Republic out of 41 monitored in the region are fully operational for passengers with no restrictions. 

- IOM launched its Syria Appeal, including COVID-19 response, covering Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq in order to support vital needs of 1.3 million internally displaced Syrians and 1.7 million Syrian refugees through a USD 206 million appeal. Of the total amount, USD 33 million will be allocated to efforts aimed at mitigating the impact of COVID-19. Download IOM’s 2020 IOM Syria Appeal here and the COVID-19 Annex here. 

- With a rapidly growing number of cases in countries affected by conflict, IOM sees that COVID-19 combined with ongoing challenges are aggravating the already dire humanitarian situation. As the first case of COVID-19 was detected in an IDP camp located in Iraq, IOM continues to find innovative solutions that allow humanitarians to ‘stay and deliver’, including IOM efforts in Yemen to provide support to common humanitarian systems (such as logistics, security, health support and accommodation) in Marib and Aden. 

- IOM continues to advocate for universal health coverage for displaced persons and migrants to be fully included in the national COVID-19 response regardless of their legal status, counter xenophobia and “infodemic” to discriminate and stigmatize displaced persons and migrants.