Why Refugees Face Higher Risks From the COVID-19 Pandemic
We’re all in this pandemic together. And we’re all at risk—no matter our age, gender, race, or job.
But, for reasons that are often beyond their control, some Americans are more likely to suffer during the pandemic—financially, emotionally, and physically. One of these at-risk groups are refugees and immigrants. Once we know what these new Iowans are facing, we can better protect and support them. That’s what EMBARC has been up to for the past seven months.
Refugees at Risk
According to the Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention, refugees are more vulnerable to the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, both physically and financially. Reasons include:
Jobs in essential industries—such as meatpacking, grocery stores, and factories—require working on site.
Lack of paid sick leave makes it financially challenging to stay home after exposure to the virus.
Multigenerational housing makes it more difficult to practice social distancing and protect older family members.
Reliance on public transportation causes more exposure to the virus. Limited routes and hours lengthen commutes.
A lack of non-English resources restricts access to critical services, such as unemployment benefits, food and rent assistance, and health care.
Many do not have health insurance and struggle to communicate with doctors and other medical workers.
Underlying medical and mental health conditions—such as diabetes or PTSD—increase the risk of a more severe illness from COVID-19.
As newcomers to Iowa, refugees have limited links to friends, religious leaders, and community organizations that can provide support.
Neighborhoods located farther from grocery stores, health clinics, and pharmacies complicate shopping for food and supplies.
Race and Ethnicity Impact Health
As of mid-October, 8.2 million Americans have contracted COVID-19 and more than 220,000 have died from it. Although there is not yet data on how many of these individuals are refugees or immigrants to this country, we do know that Black, Asian, and Hispanic Americans are more likely to contract the virus, be hospitalized, and die from it.
COVID-19 By Race and Ethnicity
However, these health disparities extend beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, partly due to social determinants of health, such as neighborhood, income, education level, food insecurity, and racial segregation.
Americans Without Health Insurance
Source: Center for American Progress
Americans With Chronic Health Conditions
EMBARC’s Response
When the pandemic hit Iowa in March, we shifted into crisis mode—to get the word out about the virus in 10-13 different languages and to respond to families affected by the pandemic, including those who lost jobs, faced eviction, needed food, struggled with virtual schooling, and required medical assistance.
EMBARC staff, board members, and community leaders worked frantically to establish the Crisis Helpline and Virtual Access Center to address the barriers faced by immigrants and refugees when accessing critical and lifesaving resources.
“The stories we heard from refugees were heartbreaking. Children called about parents struggling to breathe. Parents called because they couldn’t feed their kids.”
Dozens contracted COVID-19 and were hospitalized for treatment, which required weeks and months of intensive case management and interpretation for the sick individuals and their families.
Read the story about a brother and sister’s fight for their lives against COVID-19, and how one EMBARC staff member put her life on hold to help.
Our Crisis Helpline and Virtual Access Center continues to field calls every day about sick family members, lost jobs, and threatened evictions. We won’t stop until the pandemic does.
To help refugees and immigrants dealing with the fallout from the pandemic, donate to EMBARC today.