By Kleopatra Efstathiou
The new coronavirus has caused serious problems to the whole world, with governments struggling to control the numbers of infected citizens that are rising dramatically by the minute, and the death toll reaching terrifying levels. In this new, unfamiliar environment, all sorts of social issues have arisen, one of them naturally being the rapid worsening of racism towards migrants.
In every crisis, everyone looks for a scapegoat in their quest for closure- and this time is no different. Within days of the beginning of the crisis, every social media platform was full of “memes” humiliating the Chinese, and blaming them for the virus. This immediately had a spiral effect of racism, which did not leave our little island untouched: The atrocious remarks ridiculing the Chinese were all over the Cypriot social media, and unconsciously, people started avoiding Chinese migrants in Cyprus altogether.
Then, as expected, the virus spread around the world quickly and finally reached Cyprus. Borders closed, homes closed their doors, and people closed their hearts. Can we blame them? In such circumstances, one only thinks about his family. Prejudice grew as paranoia spread, with people panicking if someone unfamiliar, especially a foreigner, got too close to them.
These times are even harder for migrants. In Greece and in the UK, the governments have made it harder for migrants to be tested for the coronavirus, meaning that countless Cypriot students cannot travel back to their homes. Universities don’t bother with the accommodations of their students and with the university campuses closing, students often have nowhere to go. Even worse, these ramifications of the coronavirus go unheard or ignored.
Housing and proper treatment at hospitals are indeed a major concern, but the psychological state of migrants all over the world is, sadly, completely ignored. They are away from their families, often with no chance of going back home any time soon. They are afraid because healthcare systems might not recognise their needs, and additionally, they are as depressed as we all are because they are staying indoors all day. They long to be at the place that they feel most safe- which is definitely not a foreign country that treats them like second-class citizens.
Of course, one has to recognise that this emergency has made it a lot harder for countries to provide for migrants. Governments are trying to use all their resources in combatting this invisible enemy, with their priority being their own people.
It is primarily up to us, ordinary citizens, to reject this mindset. Let us all remember that these people, these migrants are exactly what we are-people. People who are struggling; People who are scared and in need of security. Let us not forget, and let this be a reminder to governments all around the world, that each country has their own students, families and many people working abroad, that they wouldn’t want to be treated without dignity and without proper care.
We must not let this emergency divide us, but it must bring us closer. This virus knows no borders, countries, skin colours, or religions. This is an international emergency and migrants are people of the international community, which every country, every town, every village, every individual, is part of.
We must not turn our backs to the most vulnerable.
We must not allow this virus to build up the walls we’ve tried so hard to break down through the years.