COVID-19 and Refugees in Asia: A Crisis Waiting to Happen

Governments, funders, and humanitarian agencies must act now to save lives and mitigate the potentially catastrophic impacts of COVID-19 on refugee and host communities throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Around 3.5 million refugees reside across the Asia-Pacific region, having fled conflict and persecution in their home countries. The largest refugee populations in Asia are Afghan refugees residing in neighboring Iran and Pakistan and Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in Bangladesh. Refugees are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19: they often have limited access to medical care and hygiene supplies, reside in high density settings where social distancing is not an option, and struggle with pre-existing health conditions that put them at higher risk of mortality and morbidity.