UNIC Lecture Series Kubilay Kaan Cumur

The COVID19 crisis has significant impact on the governance of migration and migration-related diversities. The governance of migration has changed in the context of the new mobilities and immobilities at times of the pandemic. This challenges conventional ways of thinking for instance on asylum policy and return policies. The governance of migration-related diversities, such as in integration policies, has also changed in the context of the pandemic. The functioning of various integrating institutions, such as education and the labour market, has been disturbed. At the same time there are more and more migrants that have been captured in the immobilities of the pandemic, and eager to engage in some form of incorporation process.

It has been more than 3 months since the first COVID-19 case was detected in Turkey. Government efforts have kept number of deaths relatively low and the health system so far appears to be coping reasonably well. However, real challenges in managing the pandemic remain. One of the most acute challenges relates to Turkey’s vast refugee and migrant population. The number of Syrian refugees, asylum seekers from a range of countries, and irregular migrants in the country surpasses 5 million. Most of them lead precarious lives in difficult circumstances, making them particularly vulnerable to contracting and spreading the virus. The Turkish government needs to consider the specific circumstances and needs of this population. Bearing in mind that COVID-19 does not recognize borders — and that protecting refugees is an international responsibility — improved international cooperation is urgently needed. It would be unrealistic to expect Turkey to address these challenges alone. Turkey will need additional resources. But funding is not the only avenue of burden-sharing. These are exceptional times. The COVID-19 pandemic has turned countries inward, exacerbating prospects for international cooperation.

It has been more than 3 months since the first COVID-19 case was detected in Turkey. Government efforts have kept number of deaths relatively low and the health system so far appears to be coping reasonably well. However, real challenges in managing the pandemic remain. One of the most acute challenges relates to Turkey’s vast refugee and migrant population. The number of Syrian refugees, asylum seekers from a range of countries, and irregular migrants in the country surpasses 5 million. Most of them lead precarious lives in difficult circumstances, making them particularly vulnerable to contracting and spreading the virus. The Turkish government needs to consider the specific circumstances and needs of this population. Bearing in mind that COVID-19 does not recognize borders — and that protecting refugees is an international responsibility — improved international cooperation is urgently needed. It would be unrealistic to expect Turkey to address these challenges alone. Turkey will need additional resources. But funding is not the only avenue of burden-sharing. These are exceptional times. The COVID-19 pandemic has turned countries inward, exacerbating prospects for international cooperation.

In a context of increased migration and overexposure of mobile individuals to social risks, the social protection of diaspora populations has become an area of concern across Europe. However, there is still substantial variation in how EU Member States respond to the needs of their nationals residing abroad. Such variation is also observed in the emergency measures that European countries have adopted for their non-resident nationals in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. This lecture focuses on EU states’ policy (re)actions affecting the diaspora, from travel restrictions and repatriation initiatives to consular assistance in host countries and specific measures adopted for returnees.

The pandemic pushed European states to a radical shift in priorities. Migration issues, at first, took a back seat in political agendas. We also saw significant reduction in civil society engagement, determined by increasing restrictions to social activity. In a relatively short time, however, new political and civil strategies emerged. Some governments, for example, showed radical instrumentalism in allowing temporary status to migrants in order to face lack of workforce in specific sectors, while the civil society structured 'creative' forms of solidarity. These questions and a general overview on how Covid-19 affected the approach towards migration in Europe will be the focus of this lecture.

This lecture elaborates the current economic, social, and health risks and challenges faced by irregular migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic in many parts of the world. It is already documented that in the pandemic climate these migrant workers lose their jobs (and/or housing, in the case of domestic care works) without prior notice, have a risk of infection but cannot go to health services with the fear of being arrested, suffer from the high prices of hygiene and food products, and are stuck in the immigration county without ability to return home. This lecture takes the case of Turkey where many irregular migrant workers reside and work, and elaborates their situation in the Covid-19 pandemic period. Moreover, a special emphasis is made on the case of irregular migrant workers in Istanbul.