Qatar: foreign workers still more vulnerable to coronavirus

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In the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, human rights groups are calling on the six Gulf monarchies to act, particularly in favor of migrant workers in an irregular situation. Spotlight on Qatar, a small gas emirate which deploys significant resources to limit the spread of the Covid-19.

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Qatar has often been criticized for the living and working conditions reserved for foreigners. Besides, the first victims of the coronavirus in the emirate are all foreign. Measures are now being taken for both nationals and the two million foreign workers.

Old habits persist, health situation worsens

Public gatherings are strictly prohibited, but Qataris can still move around freely. To protect its population, the rich emirate has put his hand in the pocket, says from the capital Doha Jawaher Al Mir, a young student, contacted by Sami Boukhelifa :

“ All teaching is now done online, both for primary school students and for university students. Authorities offered computers and tablets to everyone who needed them, especially large families with five or six children. "

Companies that can do so have also moved to telework. However, despite this the Qataris find it difficult to change their habits, regrets the girl:

" The situation is getting worse because people keep seeing each other. Every evening, the men meet in the majlis for coffee. It is a kind of assembly where men meet. And there is a majliss in each house, you can't control them one by one. "

NGOs call for lifting blocking of internet calls

This situation clearly represents a danger, warns Jawaher, as do the daily gatherings of foreign workers, who live on the outskirts of Doha. But there, the authorities have shown more firmness.

" Drones fly over working-class neighborhoods and broadcast messages in different languages, they say to them: stay at home, stay safe! The authorities also distribute gloves and masks to them, ”explains the student.

The two million foreign workers in Qatar come mainly from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. They participate in the construction of the infrastructure for the Football World Cup , scheduled for 2022, and also now in a field hospital supposed to welcome them during the epidemic.

On Wednesday, April 8, Human Rights Watch and 28 other NGOs called on the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar to stop blocking internet calls, to allow their foreign workers to stay in touch with their families during this period of pandemic. coronavirus. Some applications are temporarily accessible, but the popular FaceTime, Skype and Whatsapp remain blocked.

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