UNHCR is active around the world to provide mental health and psychosocial support during COVID-19. In Bangladesh, UNHCR has trained 43 national psychologists by using inter-agency guidance. The psychologists subsequently trained over 500 community psychosocial volunteers, para counsellors and community health workers in the promotion of healthy coping and maintaining psychosocial wellbeing.

UNHCR operations worldwide report that refugees and other populations of concern are finding it harder to make ends meet. In Iraq, 89 per cent of the 1,500 respondents to a monitoring survey reported loss of employment or livelihoods due to COVID-19 crisis; similarly, in South Africa, 95 per cent of calls requesting UNHCR support are from families who were previously self-sufficient.

Since the end of April, UNHCR has delivered 1.8 million masks, 800,000 gloves, as well as personal protective equipment kits, hand sanitizers, gowns, goggles and thermometers to 12 UNHCR operations. Additional equipment was purchased locally.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh has more than doubled over the past two weeks to over 35,000. There are now 25 confirmed cases among refugees in Kutupalong camp. To respond, UNHCR opened two isolation and treatment facilities last week with a total of 200 beds. The total capacity provided by humanitarian actors will reach 1,100 beds by mid-June.

With Latin America emerging as a new epicenter, Venezuelan refugees and migrants are in need of additional support. On 26 May, the International Donors Conference in Solidarity with Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants raised some USD 2.79 billion for host states and organisations helping the Venezuelans.