Forced displacement: an emerging indirect impact of Covid-19 pandemic in America and the rest of the world. Prospects and Solutions
Authors: Ebeh Dandison Nat , Okpala Peace Chikaodili , Akinmoladun Tunde M 
Published: September 2021

Background and aimsDespite Global efforts in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response, the SARS-Cov-2 virus presents a growing concern for the forced displacement of persons from their communities. People are forcibly evicted or displaced to other places by both the direct or indirect sequelae of the disease. The direct sequelae have been the movement of people from communities of high COVID-19 endemicity to areas of a perceived low COVID-19 endemicity and, or threats to life. The indirect sequelae have occurred mainly following the associated shutdown of social services (hospitals, schools, transportation, etc.), eviction from community or housing, and loss of livelihood posed by COVID-19. New policy and practice approach in the Global pandemic response that incorporates timely measures to address any COVID-19 induced forced displacement and offer humanitarian assistance to individuals impacted are needed. This is also on the hill of a looming lifting and or expiration of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “temporary protection of housing eviction (eviction moratorium)” in the USA and elsewhere, so many individuals or families will likely be homeless and become internally displaced persons post public health emergency declaration. The present study aims to bring to the limelight this ongoing but yet to addressed complications of the COVID-19 pandemic and recommends possible solutions for this pandemic and any future disease outbreaks. MethodsWe carried out multiple online and database searched on COVID-19 induced-forced displacement of persons. Furthermore, we conducted an online search of COVID-19 induced displacement monitoring and tracking in the USA and globally, as well as that on data collected and/or compile through intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and non-governmental organizations. In a narrative review, we try to identify COVID-19 induced forced displacement data provided online from the inception of the pandemic outbreak-December 2019 to August 2021. ResultsWe included data from a biannual data report on forced displacement provided by three intergovernmental organizations as identified on their websites. Recommendations were made for incorporating active monitoring and tracking of COVID-19 induced Force displacement/evicted persons post expiration of “temporary protection from housing eviction” in the Global pandemic effort with a view to providing baseline data for intervention and targeted humanitarian assistance to displaced persons.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause forced displacement of persons and communities, alongside attendant humanitarian needs. Incorporating COVID-19 induced forced displacement monitoring and tracking is a key solution to minimizing the collateral suffering, morbidity, and mortality associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic or future disease outbreak. We also suggested the establishment of a specific center for Disease outbreak (COVID-19 pandemic) induced-forced displacement studies in America.