Mr. Miko Alazas, the International Organisation for Migration’s (IOM), communication officer has called for migrants’ inclusive policy to mitigate the economic effect of post covid-19.
According to him, nations must adopt the
policy as a strategy to manage migration rather than being harsh on the
migrants.
He made these remarks on Friday at day-2 of
the international online summit tagged Migration; Post COVID-19: The role of
stakeholders. The event was organised by the Journalists International Forum for
Migration (JIFORM).
Delivering a presentation titled Migration
Management And Post Covid-19, he listed migration management to include
containment of the effect of COVID- 19 and treatment of migrants, dispora
remittance, human trafficking, and cross border issues as part of critical
areas media must aim their focus to get the attention of policy makers.
He said developed countries should appreciate
the role and intervention of migrants particularly at this pandemic period
where thousands classified as migrants have been recruited by top countries
like Germany and others in Europe to make up for the shortage of man power in
their health sector.
He charged developed nations in Europe to
assist migrants to access health care irrespective of their status arguing that
they were potential economic developers. He noted that the expected fall in the
diaspora remittance posed a serious threat to the economy of developing nations;
he called for monitoring of welfare and protection of refugees and security
against human trafficking.
He pointed out that the media must look at
issues that are under reported like the diaspora remittance, citing that 70% of
Gambia’s remittances come from countries in major lockdown countries such as; Spain,
Italy, UK, US. He added that media must investigate and play up issues of food
security for migrants.
He pointed out that the lockdown has slowed
down many economic activities including the IOM piloted voluntary returnees
scheme, pointing out that several migrants are stranded at the border posts.
Miko added that IOM Gambia had been
facilitating migrants’ voluntary return and reintegration.
He said migrants needed hospitality and
cautioned privileged countries to refrain from using COVID-19 as an excuse to
shut borders against them.
The IOM official challenges the media to show
interest in camps and detentions where refugees were kept in order to report
any abuse, stigmatisation and ensure that social distancing orders are obeyed.
He said Migrants are vulnerable across the borders because of the rate of mobility. “They are vulnerable actors that need protection because now borders and airports are shut.”
The media foundation with over 150 journalists
spread across the continents had participated in several international summits
both within and outside Africa.
The online summit was the second in the series of events organised by JIFORM amidst the pandemic.