Contemplating the impact of restrictions on the religious life of ethnic minority and migrant communities during the Covid-19 pandemic

The global lockdown has had a significant impact on the ability of religious communities to gather and offer support in times of stress and illness. In this post Dr Romina Istratii draws on her research conducted with Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Täwahәdo adherents in Northern Ethiopia and London to describe the role of religious communities and…

‘The displacement virus is much stronger than the coronavirus’: Reflections from Burj el-Barajneh and Baqa’a Camps in Lebanon and Jordan

What roles do communal solidarity and sociality play in spaces such as the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic? This question is examined by Samar Maqusi, who draws on conversations with camp residents Abu Mohammad and Abu Ahmad, to reflect on the 'socially conscious' creativity developing and responding to the pandemic.…

Prof. Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh discusses COVID-19 and poverty on Channel 4 News

Refugee Hosts PI Prof. Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, on Channel 4 News, discusses how Covid-19 is impacting people living in poverty around the world. Prof. Fiddian-Qasmiyeh highlights the diversity of national and international responses, including by Low and Middle Income Countries. She argues for global solutions based on principles of solidarity to address the global pandemic in…

With a third eye, I see the catastrophe

With a third eye, I see the catastrophe By Yousif M. Qasmiyeh, University of Oxford and Refugee Hosts  [I write the secret]. On the doorstep, finding her way to the seeds that escaped her lap: Like the one who read the book, Son, read my swollen legs, another’s land. The camp happens in the distance.…

Syrian Refugees in Lebanon amid Confinement, Health Scares and Escalating Needs

“We will not die from Coronavirus, but from hunger.” How do state and humanitarian policies further compound the risks that refugees are facing during the Coronavirus pandemic? In this post, Jasmin Lilian Diab examines UNHCR’s response to Covid-19 and the impact of social distancing and isolation policies on Syrian refugees living in Lebanon. Thus far,…

Refugee-led Local Responses in the Time of COVID-19: Preliminary reflections from North Lebanon

Refugee-led Local Responses in the Time of COVID-19: Preliminary reflections from North Lebanon by Prof. Elena Fiddian-Qasmiyeh, PI of Refugee Hosts, UCL How can we, and why should we, write about a deadly pandemic which is further compounding the vulnerabilities of millions of people whose lives and wellbeing have long been shattered by protracted conflict…