Working with refugees during COVID-19: Social worker voices from Turkey

Nisanci A. A., Kahraman R., Alcelik Y., Kiris U.

INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK, vol.63, no.5, pp.685-690, 2020 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 63 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2020
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/0020872820940032
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL WORK
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, IBZ Online, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, CINAHL, HeinOnline-Law Journal Library, Index Islamicus, Psycinfo, Public Affairs Index, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.685-690
  • Keywords: COVID-19, non-governmental organizations, pandemic, refugees, tele-social work
  • Marmara University Affiliated: No

Abstract

This short essay aims to share social workers' experiences of working with refugees during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. Three of the authors work in different non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in different cities. NGOs play a vital role in the delivery of psychosocial support services to refugees in Turkey and have been inevitably affected by the pandemic. The major practice challenges are being unprepared for tele-social work, a decrease in financial resources, increasing barriers to resources, and threats to refugee children's wellbeing. Finally, suggestions are made for the near future.