IOM, Swiss embassy partner with Tamkeen to provide basic necessities for migrant workers impacted by coronavirus

AMMAN — On June 14, the UN Migration Agency (IOM) and the Embassy of Switzerland in Jordan launched a three-month project to facilitate access to basic necessities for the most vulnerable migrant workers in Jordan impacted by COVID-19. 

The IOM has partnered with the Jordanian NGO Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Human Rights (Tamkeen) and they will work together with the relevant Jordanian government entities to respond to the urgent needs of migrant workers, according to a joint statement made available to The Jordan Times on Sunday.

This project will contribute to the better protection of migrant workers in Jordan and facilitate their access to essential food and non-food items for up to three months. The intervention aims to target up to 1,700 beneficiaries residing in different governorates across the country.

According to the statement, migrant workers remain among the most vulnerable groups whose lives have been “heavily impacted” by the pandemic, which prompted unprecedented measures, including a lockdown and intermittent curfews. 

Consequently, many migrant workers have lost their daily incomes and access to services. Many have also been unable to return to their home countries and have been left in “dire need” of basic supplies, the statement read. 

Migrant and mobile populations bear a high risk of infection in addition to being more vulnerable to the broader socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19, and as such, should be included in recovery plans. 

“Life has been very difficult for everyone. We lost our jobs and now we cannot do anything except stay at home and try to take care of ourselves,” a Sri Lankan migrant worker in Jordan, Kuniudu, said in the statement.