The U.N. announced Tuesday it is suspending refugee resettlement flights amid coronavirus fears, though it will still try to work out ways to still accommodate “critical emergency cases.”
Pointing to countries that have severely limited or shut down their borders, the U.N. High Commissioner on Refugees and the International Organization for Migration said they’d watched as refugees were stranded in airports or separated from family because of the patchwork of rules imposed by various nations. And the organizations said they feared the refugees themselves could be delivered to countries where they might catch COVID-19.
“As a result, IOM and UNHCR are taking steps to suspend resettlement departures for refugees. This is a temporary measure that will be in place only for as long as it remains essential,” the groups said in a statement. “The suspension will begin to take effect within the next few days as the two agencies attempt to bring those refugees who have already cleared all formalities to their intended destinations.”
The U.S. had already severely diminished its refugee resettlement program in recent years, with a record low number expected in 2020. It had accepted about 900 refugees so far in March. The U.N. halt will likely dent those numbers even further since the U.S. system relies on the UNHCR to vet most refugees before the government will consider them.
American aid groups said they understood the reasons for the UNHCR’s move, but were still saddened.
For the full story, please visit the Washington Times.
