World Refugee Day: Life in a pandemic

Women refugees share their stories

The economic and social toll of COVID-19 has been felt across the globe, but the impact of the virus is not equal. People fleeing conflict and persecution are among the worst hit by the consequences of the pandemic. They also frequently lack sufficient access to healthcare and handwashing facilities to protect themselves against the virus.

According to the newly released figures by the UN Refugee Agency, an unprecedented 79.5 million people were displaced – the highest number the UNHCR has ever seen. Oxfam works alongside communities, partner NGOs, women and refugee-led organisations to prevent the spread of the disease in vulnerable communities and to ensure that their basic food and hygiene needs are met.

For World Refugee Day, we spoke to five women in Greece and Italy about how they’ve been coping with the pandemic outbreak and how they manage to find strength even in the face of incredible hardship.

Here’s Sara’s experience on how the Bashira Centre for displaced women helps her stay strong in Moria refugee camp in Greece.

“Bashira is so important to me.”

Sara:

“I had already been waiting in the camp for 4 months. The pandemic measures made me feel abandoned, locked up, dirty. I found myself spending my whole day lying in my narrow, damp tent.

“Before the pandemic, every morning I went to Bashira, a centre that supports women in Lesbos. There, I could take a hot bath, meet people, share a tea, have English and Greek lessons and do what I like most: sports.

“Now, to protect myself against COVID-19, I stay in the tent as much as possible, go out only when necessary and wash my hands each time I come back from a trip to the camp warehouse.

“Bashira is so important to me. I hope that a medicine or vaccine against COVID-19 is found, so that Bashira and the asylum service can reopen.”

Lydia, a woman refugee also trapped in Moria camp in Greece, tells us how she has stayed safe during the pandemic.

“COVID-19 changed everything in my life.”

Lydia: “I am afraid of living freely while people are dying.

Oxfam works with partners on the island of Lesbos in Greece. Our most recent ‘Lesbos Bulletin’ provides an update on the situation in Moria camp, one of the EU sponsored ‘hotspots’ on the Greek islands, and our demands to the EU and Greek authorities.

“I went through many difficult things, I can get through this too.”

Helena, a refugee living in Italy, has found strength in some small joys.

“I give myself strength. I say to myself: I went through many difficult things, I can get through this too! I have a vegetable garden with plants and flowers. It makes me happy – there I find my paradise.

“My hope is that this virus goes away forever. I would like to go back to a normal life: that my children go back to school and we can see friends again. I really would like to go to work without being afraid.”

“The Koran gives me strength.”

Mariama is a refugee from Guinea living in Italy. For World Refugee Day, she describes the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on her life.

“I hope to find a job and an apartment. In the meantime, I find strength in praying to God. The Koran gives me strength.”

“I hope that my friends and family stay safe.”

Wafaa, who fled from Syria and now lives in Italy, is repairing the uniforms of nurses and doctors during this pandemic. For World Refugee Day, she talks about the personal impact of the corona crisis.