UEA study looks at human cost of travel restrictions during the pandemic
Families spanning different countries and continents have faced long-term separation, ever-changing rules and sometimes losing their job
Travel red-lists and border closures introduced during the pandemic have severely impacted ‘transnational’ families and people, whose lives span across different countries.
That's according to a study conducted by Dr Irene Skovgaard-Smith from the University of East Anglia.
She told us that the consequences of these measures have been devastating for many: "3.6% of the worlds populations are migrants and then you add on their families and the second and third generation. It's a minority of course, but it's still a very large part of the population and those people that live across borders don't have a voice.
"I've heard stories of people working in Singapore, where you have thirty days to leave the country. If you come from countries like Australia or New Zealand and you cannot return to your own country, what do you do? You are there with a family, you've lost your job and financially it's a disaster. You've essentially lost everything".
She went on to say that they have also meant the basic needs and desires of these people have been overlooked: "People were able to go on holiday, while others were still not able to see their families. When this started happening it became more than just not being able to see your family, because you start to realise that you're being discriminated against. Others can travel, but you can't have your family over to see you or get home yourself".
Dr Skovgaard-Smith concluded by saying these peoples lives have essentially been in limbo for nearly two years: "They are living with that sense of insecurity that Government's can, at a drop of a hat, completely pull the carpet away from underneath the plans that you now have to finally reunite with your family. This is something we've just seen with the UK and many other nations when they put many countries on their red-lists in the wake of the Omicron variant".