Addressing COVID-19 in humanitarian settings: a call to action

Conflict and Health

Fouad M. Fouad¹  Nawara Alawa²  Adam Coutts³  Richard Sullivan⁴  Jude Alawa⁵  Kaveh Khoshnood⁶ 

[1] Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut;Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine;Department of Sociology, University of Cambridge;Institute for Cancer Policy and Conflict & Health Research Group, King’s College London;Stanford University School of Medicine;Yale School of Public Health;

关键词: COVID-19;    Refugees;    Internally displaced persons;    Humanitarian settings: WASH;    Infectious disease;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13031-020-00307-8

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Refugees and internally displaced persons in humanitarian settings are particularly susceptible to the spread of infectious illnesses such as COVID-19 due to overcrowding and inadequate access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities. Countries facing conflict or humanitarian emergencies often have damaged or fragmented health systems and little to no capacity to test, isolate, and treat COVID-19 cases. Without a plan to address COVID-19 in humanitarian settings, host governments, aid agencies, and international organizations risk prolonging the spread of the virus across borders, threatening global health security, and devastating vulnerable populations. Stakeholders must coordinate a multifaceted response to address COVID-19 in humanitarian settings that incorporates appropriate communication of risks, sets forth resource-stratified guidelines for the use of limited testing, provides resources to treat affected patients, and engages displaced populations.

【 授权许可】

Unknown