Covid-19 response

The project

In accordance to IOM’s Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan Coronavirus Disease 2019 (GSRP) and the funding scope and priorities of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) of the United States Department of State, IOM Greece will roll out a holistic humanitarian response aiming at ensuring the protection and well-being of migrant population affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. In particular, IOM Greece will target migrants and refugees in a situation of vulnerability residing in migrant accommodation settings in mainland Greece, with specific focus being placed on Unaccompanied Migrant Children (UMC) due to their ever-increasing population  and their particular vulnerability, which requires a tailored-made response.  
Activities have been designed in line with the strategic priorities and pillars encompassed within the GSRP and in coordination with relevant stakeholders in Greece, particularly with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum (MoMA), the Special Secretary for the Protection of Unaccompanied Minors (SSUAM), the Ministry of Health (MoH), the National Public Health Organization (EODY) and the Ministry of Education (MoE), as well as other humanitarian actors to ensure an adequate and effective response.   

The proposed interventions will extend over the following pillars: 

Pillar 1: Tracking mobility impacts 

Implementation of IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM)  
IOM Greece will support the implementation and enhancement of IOM’s DTM by building upon the existing tools and methodology. Through the below activities, IOM Greece aims at enhancing coordination among relevant actors responding to the pandemic at national and regional level by facilitating through the maintaining existing and establishing new flow monitoring points the mapping; monitoring, analysis and dissemination of accurate and up-to-date information on the migrant population mobility dynamics and the Covid-19 impacts.  
Flow monitoring at points of entry (land and blue border crossing points) and collection of data on migrants who express the will to return, to identify if any relation with Covid-19. Collection and monitoring of Covid-19 related information, including possibility for physical distancing at migrant settings, availability of information and of hygiene materials on Covid-19, type and duration of Covid-19 restrictions, population categories affected and public health measures applied at 4 points of entry, namely 2 land borders and 2 blue borders. A tool will be used to collect and monitor trends of the disease and will be updated on a weekly basis. Production of datasets, reports and maps, and dissemination to relevant stakeholders, including national authorities and other humanitarian actors.  

Pillar 2: Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) 

Hygiene promotion and awareness-raising among Unaccompanied Migrant Children (UMC) 
Timely accurate and tailored information is key to preventing further transmission of the disease and for preparing beneficiaries to recover in the long-term, especially if migrants in a situation of vulnerability are at risk of being affected. Taking this into account, IOM Greece will target UMC residing in all 56 shelters operating in mainland Greece to increase their knowledge and capacity in effectively taking preventive measures and seeking assistance. Children will also be engaged in providing inputs for the development of the material to capture perceptions of the virus, transmission, treatment, etc. to address misinformation and any risks of disease-related stigma. 

Pillar 3: Logistics, procurement and supply chain 

Provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and hygiene items to relevant stakeholders 
In order to prevent further transmission of the virus, IOM Greece will support national authorities and other humanitarian actors in securing the needed PPE, hygiene items and any other needed equipment for beneficiaries and frontline humanitarian workers.

Pillar 4: Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) 

Targeted refurbishment interventions in UMC’s shelters 
In order to increase preparedness for affected UMC and ensure continuity of care, IOM Greece will provide support to UMC’s shelter-operating actors in upgrading UMC’s shelters as a Covid-19 preventative measure. The interventions will particularly concern the creation of quarantine and isolation areas in shelters where such refurbishment works are technically feasible. 

Pillar 5: Protection 

Provision of medical assistance to UMC  
Given the large number of UMC’s shelters, the lack of medical equipment and personnel in the shelters and the limited capacity of the local public healthcare structures to address effectively the target population’s needs – especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic -, the provision of medical support to UMC residing in shelters is of paramount importance, in order to accelerate the handling of medical cases and provide tailor-made protection assistance.