Brussels/Cairo, 21 April 2021- The European Union (EU) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched on Tuesday 20 April a EUR 7.55 million programme for ‘Regional Response to COVID-19 in North African Countries’ to respond to the emergency needs of COVID-19 affected population and prepare individuals and communities for longer term-recovery.

Funded under the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF), the two-year programme focuses on migrants and forcibly displaced persons, including returnees, asylum seekers, refugees,  especially those most vulnerable as well as their host communities in Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.

“This Programme is much-needed given the current circumstances of the Covid pandemic. It is one of the many operations that the EUTF for Africa has put in place to support North African partners in addressing the most urgent and dire needs of migrants, forcibly displaced people and the host communities,” said Mirco Kreibich, The Manager of the Trust Fund for Africa – North of Africa window.

“Making sure that everyone has access to adequate health services, including fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccinations, is not just the right thing to do, it is the responsible thing to do to not leave anyone behind.” said Carmela Godeau, IOM Regional Director for the Middle East, and North Africa.

The programme will implement a wide set of various activities targeting both people and institutions and focusing not only on ensuring protection and assistance to the vulnerable population but also looking at addressing their socio-economic needs by providing them with livelihood and employment opportunities.

A regional steering committee to which the EU and national authorities shall participate, will be established to provide strategic direction including coordination with the Task Force on COVID-19 and Migration/Mobility under the Issue Based Coalition (IBC) on Migration in the Arab region.  

Note to the editor:

As of 11 April 2021, over 1 million COVID-19 confirmed cases have been reported in Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia, according to data from the World Health Organization. To date, more than 33,000 confirmed deaths have been reported in the four targeted countries. Over 352,000 people have received their first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in the four targeted countries.