8. Right to protection of life and health for persons in camps, collective shelters, and settlements States must take effective measures to mitigate COVID-19 transmission among migrants, refugees, and other displaced persons living in camps, collective shelters, and settlements. The duty of States to take steps necessary for the prevention, treatment, and control of pandemic diseases applies with equal force toward persons who are compelled to live in camps, collective shelters, or settlements in which they are excluded from health systems provided to the general population. Migrants, refugees, and other displaced persons living in such locations must be provided with access to health services; information in a language they understand; clean water and soap, disinfectants and other means of enhancing personal hygiene; practical measures for physical distancing (which, however, must not result in lack of support to the most vulnerable); testing and tracking capacities to isolate infected persons and persons who might be infected; and, where possible, measures to decongest camps, collective shelters, and settlements. Restrictions on movement into, out of and within camps, collective shelters, or settlements for migrants, refugees, and other displaced persons present particular challenges. Such restrictions may be justifiable if strictly necessary for the protection of the health of those residing there or the community at large (provided that adequate health measures and services are provided to persons within such camps, collective shelters, and settlements). Further, protection of health requires that humanitarian personnel working in camps, collective shelters, or settlements be screened for COVID-19 and provided with personal protective equipment to prevent COVID-19 from spreading. (Sources: UDHR art. 3; ICCPR arts. 2(1), 6(1); IESCR art. 12(2); Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement arts. 12(20), 18(2)(d); ECtHR, Budayeva and Others v Russia (2008.)) 9. Right to information Migrants, refugees, and other displaced persons have a right to information about COVID-19, including information related to symptoms, prevention, control of spread, treatment, and social relief. The internet is an indispensable source of information, and blocking or interfering with access during a pandemic is not justifiable. Access to scientifically sound health-related information is a crucial part of the right to health, and States have an obligation to provide access to accurate and reliable information to migrants, refugees, and other displaced persons. Such information should include the nature and level of the health threat, measures to mitigate risks, how to access health care, and ongoing response efforts (including restrictions on movement and other rights). Information must be made available in a language that migrants, refugees, and other displaced persons can understand. In order to foster the trust necessary to contain the spread of the virus, provide health care for those who need it, and best deploy resources, affected persons should be provided with information that permits them to effectively participate in the crafting of response efforts. 9

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