7/16/2020 Migrant workers coming home: To what? | The Daily Star "Our job is not to issue a compliance of any agreement but to assist the government in its demand to do so" George Gigauri, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration, the UN Migration Agency   Most experts are clear that the socioeconomic consequences of the crisis are already outstripping the public health consequences. IOM, along with other agencies in the UN Migration Network, are working closely with the government to respond. We all agree that there are three main elements here—the pre-departure phase, the actual return and reception process, and the longer reintegration or possible remigration process. In the first phase, we have to remember that not everyone has lost their jobs. Those that have, depending on which country they have returned from, have received some assistance from destination countries. In countries like Lebanon, they are in a terrible situation and need urgent humanitarian assistance while they wait for return. The government, NGOs and UN organisations are already working on this, but much more needs to be done. Then there's the return and reception process, which has a public health dimension to it. We are bringing back thousands of migrants, not just workers—such as students, stranded migrants, failed asylum seekers. How do we make sure we don't bring back infected agents who act as super spreaders once they are reinstated in their communities? Do we have the facilities to quarantine the huge numbers of returnees? Ideally, tests should be done prior to return. https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/news/migrant-workers-coming-home-what-1922477 10/14