Baku - The United Nations Migration Agency - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Azerbaijan started providing an urgent assistance and support vulnerable migrants (foreign nationals) to address basic food and hygiene, housing/accommodation, and/or medical needs in the scope of the “Contribution for Humanitarian Activities included in IOM Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan Coronavirus Disease 2019 (IOM COVID GSRP) - COVID 19 – South Caucasus” project.

Since September 2020, IOM Azerbaijan's active outreach to vulnerable migrants brought to light the acute needs and deepening vulnerabilities of the migrants stranded in the country.

In November, 446 foreign migrants applied for assistance in Azerbaijan. Majority of them were male. Applicants originate from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, India, Moldova, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Yemen, and Ukraine. Out of those who applied for assistance, 143 including children were eligible migrants who applied for direct humanitarian assistance. Among them 108 migrants received direct humanitarian assistance (food/hygienic items),117 migrants received assistance with accommodation, and 8 migrants received assistance with documents.

Currently IOM Azerbaijan continues working directly with foreign migrants in order to identify and reach out to as many vulnerable migrants as possible.