COVID-19 COVID-19

Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, globally, IOM has been working with Member States and partners to prepare and respond to the outbreak, with operational and technical support in the areas of migration and health.The aim of IOM’s COVID-19 activities is to propose ways to support countries that may need additional resources – financial, technical or operational –for preparedness or response to help ensure further infections are prevented, and to assist health systems so they have the capacity to cope with COVID-19 from a mobility perspective.

Due to measures following the COVID19/Corona Virus outbreak, we have adapted our activities on Assisted Voluntary Return.
Flight availability is very limited. In addition, countries of origin and transit points often implement additional restrictions.

Within those limitations, IOM staff will continue to assist migrants who wish to return, to the best of our possibilities.
For questions and inquiries, our counsellors can be reached on their direct phone numbers or at 088 746 4466.

The COVID-19 Crisis has increased health insecurities worldwide and raised many questions about our health, hygiene and health care. To help migrants, who might not speak the language of the country they reside in, protect themselves from COVID-19, IOM’s coordination office for the Mediterranean has launched a multilingual campaign. This leaflet contains explanations of the virus and instructions provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

In the Netherlands, most information on COVID-19 is provided in Dutch. This impacts 100,000 newcomers who might not understand the Dutch language sufficiently. The leaflet has been translated into 27 languages to make this information accessible for newcomers and migrants. Click on one of the languages below to download the flyer in your preferred language.

Please note that the leaflet addresses to keep a distance of 1-meter between you and others while in public.
We ask you to follow the guidelines of RIVM and thus keep a 1.5-meter distance.

• Arabic
• Amharic
• Bambara
• Bengali
• Chinese
• Edo
• English
• Esan Ishan
• French
• Fula
• Georgian
• Hausa
• Igbo
• Italian
• Kurdish Sorani
• Mandinka
• Pachtou
• Pidgin
• Romanian
• Russian
• Somali
• Soninke
• Spanish
• Tigrinya
• Urdu
• Wolof
• Yoruba

Message from the Director General

Over the past few weeks, across much of the world, our lives have been upended in ways few could have anticipated.
People have had to make drastic and sudden adjustments to their lives, working from home, caring for children who can no longer go to school, restricting movements to essential needs only.
In the midst of this global crisis, which is setting at unprecedented speed, and whose duration we cannot foresee, many of us are naturally concerned for our loved ones, particularly those who are the most vulnerable, whether because of age or health factors.