“Pandemi Mevcut Sorunları Derinleştirdi”: İstanbul’da Kayıtdışı Afgan Göçmenler, Sağlık, Hastalık ve Kovid-19 Pandemisi
“Pandemic Transformed the Existing Problems”: Undocumented Afghan Immigrants in Istanbul, Health, Disease and Kovid-19 Pandemic

Summary/Abstract: The Covid-19 pandemic, which emerged in 2020, opened a new phase in the world’s long history of the epidemics. The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the lives of disadvantaged groups more negatively than other outbreaks in history. This article discusses the unaccompanied Afghan migrant minors and undocumented adult male Afghan migrants in Istanbul, whose lives have become more problematic during the days of pandemic. The source of the article is based on a longitudinal qualitative study on unaccompanied Afghan migrant minors and undocumented adult male Afghan migrants in Istanbul for five years (from 2015 to 2020). This article argues that before the start of the pandemic, this group has long tried to deal with vital health issues by addressing three stages of migration process. The inadequacies of the health system in Afghanistan and the injuries that occur during the migration journey cause important health problems for migrants. Health problems and lack of access to health services, especially from heavy working conditions in Istanbul, create fatal health problems for migrants. The Covid-19 pandemic has created an effect that deepens labour exploitation, social inequalities and social exclusion of Afghan migrants.

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