Prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Gulf region was home to ~29 million foreign residents, an estimated 20–40% of whom were residing there in an irregular status. Most of them had skilfully devised strategies to survive in this irregular situation, with friends and relatives acting as essential support networks. The COVID-19 Pandemic suddenly disrupted this well-established social order. This article outlines the lived experiences of 26 irregular migrants residing in Kuwait when the Pandemic occurred. Twelve of our interviewees were planning to leave in response to the amnesty declared on 1 April, while 14 were planning to stay or were uncertain. Network support continued to provide an essential element in enabling their survival. Intermediaries such as kafeels (sponsors) were often unavailable or unwilling to provide assistance. The health and welfare of irregular migrants require special policy attention since they now face an enhanced risk of being apprehended and deported.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 以及科威特和海湾地区非正常移民面临的威胁


在 COVID-19 大流行之前，海湾地区居住着约 2,900 万外国居民，估计其中 20-40% 以非正常身份居住在那里。他们中的大多数人巧妙地制定了在这种不正常情况下生存的策略，朋友和亲戚是重要的支持网络。 COVID-19大流行突然扰乱了这一完善的社会秩序。本文概述了疫情发生时居住在科威特的 26 名非正常移民的生活经历。响应 4 月 1 日宣布的特赦，我们的 12 名受访者计划离开，而 14 名受访者计划留下或不确定。网络支持继续为他们的生存提供基本要素。 kafeels （赞助商）等中介机构往往无法提供或不愿意提供帮助。非正规移民的健康和福利需要特别的政策关注，因为他们现在面临着更大的被逮捕和驱逐出境的风险。