Egypt proposes solutions to mitigate impact of COVID-19 on migrants at IOM meeting

CAIRO – 30 November 2021: In a recorded speech at the high-profile meeting of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shokry showcased how COVID-19 pandemic influenced migration and migrants proposing solutions.

The minister noted that the economic instability caused by the pandemic incurred higher rates of unemployment among migrants. As a consequence, remittances declined making their homelands lose a main source of income. Also, their return is not possible given the inability of the labor market in their original countries to absorb them, the press statement issued Tuesday indicates.

The Egyptian foreign minister suggested launching a multilateral dialogue - on the national, regional and international levels - aimed at devising strategies that would achieve harmony among health requirements of different countries and ensuring migrants access to vaccination. He further proposed the inclusion of migrants in social safety networks.