UNHCR Dialogue with Regional NGOs on the COVID-19 Response

This dialogue was co-organized by UNHCR Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) and ICVA. 60 NGOs (89 individuals) representing rights and advocacy, refugee communities themselves, humanitarian responders, UNHCR, and others joined the meeting which took place online on Thursday, 9 April. A summary note 

Advocacy for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal

In the COVID-19 context, Asylum Seekers in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal are facing harsh response from countries in the region, with a number of boats being turned back in recent days from Malaysia, Thailand and now Bangladesh.

• APRRN has issued a statement calling for an end to the pushbacks of Rohingya refugees http://aprrn.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/APRRN-Statement-End-Pushbacks-of-Rohingya-Refugees-.pdf
• UNHCR have issued a statement urging greater coordination and responsibility-sharing by states to address the maritime movements of refugees and asylum-seekers in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, including in the COVID-19 context. https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2020/4/5ea13da74/news-comment-maritime-movements-refugees-asylum-seekers-unhcr-regional.html

United Nations COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund

The United Nations COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund is a UN inter-agency fund mechanism established by the UN Secretary-General to help support low- and middle-income programme countries overcome the health and development crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and support those most vulnerable to economic hardship and social disruption.

This factsheet summarizes the scope of the Fund and governance structure - Shared Responsibility, Global Solidarity: Responding to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19. The fund is open to DAC LDC and LMIC and SIDS countries in the region that are not covered by the Global HRP and submission is being prepared by UN RC Offices with engagement from UN Country Teams.  No mechanism for NGO engagement has been specified at this stage, so any questions should be directed to the RC Office in country.

COVID-19 and Conflict in Asia

• A public statement released by a number of INGOs in the wake of a fatal shooting incident on a WHO vehicle in Rakhine.  The statement expresses Members' condolences and calls for an immediate ceasefire, in line with the UNSG's call
• Peace and the pandemic: the impact of COVID-19 on conflict in Asia https://devpolicy.org/peace-and-the-pandemic-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-conflict-in-asia-20200414/

Sub-Regional Updates 

ASEAN

• Declaration of the Special ASEAN Summit on COVID-19  https://asean.org/storage/2020/04/FINAL-Declaration-of-the-Special-ASEAN-Summit-on-COVID-19.pdf

South Asia

• CWSA Situation Update - Covid-19 outbreak scales up in South Asia https://communityworldservice.asia/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/C-SitRep-001-PA-20.pdf
• Bangladesh: Position paper from humanitarian NGO networks of BDCSOProcess, Disaster Forum, NAHAB and NIRAPAD in the context of COVID19 Crisis in Bangladesh. Inclusive coordination, social mobilization and Local leadership are indispensable to mitigate the COVID 19 crisis in Bangladesh http://coastbd.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/English-Position-from-Humanitaran-Network-on-Corona.pdf
• Nepal: From the Women-Friendly Disaster Management Group, Inter-Generational Feminist Thought Leaders’ Group, and Women Humanitarian and Disaster Risk Reduction Platform in Nepal, a Charter of Demands calling for the upholding of principles of equality and non-discrimination in the response to COVID-19.

UN Guidance/Updates

• WFP guidance note on Humanitarian-Military Coordination during COVID-19 in Complex Environments
• UNICEF Technical Note on COVID-19 and Harmful Practices – Child Marriage and FGM
• OHCHR Guidance on COVID-19 and Women’s Human Rights and Guidance on COVID-19 and the Human Rights of Migrants
• UNDRR (with HelpAge and UN Women): Policy Brief: Leave No One Behind in COVID-19 Prevention, Response and Recovery
• UN Women Guidance package on women’s economic empowerment in COVID-19 recovery in Asia Pacific:  addressing the emerging impacts on migrant women
• UN Women and WHO policy brief on Violence against Women and Girls data collection during COVID-19: https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2020/04/issue-brief-violence-against-women-and-girls-data-collection-during-covid-19
• WHO WIPRO latest partner update on COVID-19
• UNHCR External Update 22 April
• WHO Interim Guidance - Preparedness, prevention and control of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for refugees and migrants in non-camp settings – Access the publication

Regional Working Groups

Migrants and Refugees

Thematic Working Group - Asia & Pacific - Newsletter n.1 https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?e=&u=8f09581ce93b8dd14b6f2691c&id=fdddb3e529

Risk Communication and Community Engagement

• COVID-19: How to include marginalized and vulnerable people in risk communication and community engagement - update incorporating some vulnerable groups that were missing in the original is on ReliefWeb. 
• Internews bulletin on Rumour-Tracking that consists of analysis of social media rumours in 6 languages (Thai, Urdu, Indonesian, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese) in our region
• Translators without Borders has released a new set of language data maps to help inform effective communication in the COVID-19 response. 

Webinars

• The Role of Human Resources (HR) in Remote Management during Covid-19 Response - Tuesday April 28, 2020, 13-15h BKK Time.

This interactive webinar will help explore challenges encountered in remote management; and the role of HR in facilitating an effective remote management process including remote hiring, evaluating remote teams and promoting a desired culture in a remote environment. Register to participate: Registration – HR in Remote Management

• The impact of Covid-19 on the rights of migrants - Tuesday, 19 May 2020 at 15:00 CEST (20:00 BKK)

ICVA, Civil Society Action Committee (AC) and the International Migrants Bill of Rights (IMBR) Initiative at Cornell University will hold this webinar to discuss the potential impacts of COVID-19 and related measures on the rights of migrants. Further information on speakers and details for this webinar will be shared soon, to pre-register email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Useful Resources

Sign up here for regular updates on important emerging research on the political, economic, and social effects of COVID-19. IFRC are facilitating a review of the latest research and analysis on knowledge, attitudes, practices, and participation in Asia Pacific.