Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Urban Citizenship Covid

Tel Aviv Case Study

Urban Citizenship in Times of Crisis: Tel Aviv

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In Tel Aviv, we focused our research on migrant serving organizations that worked to provide services to asylum seekers from Sudan and Eritrea in the city of Tel Aviv during the pandemic. At the close of 2020, nearly 28,000 persons from Sudan and Eritrea (20% and 71% respectively) resided in Israel. Approximately 10,000 of them lived in the city of Tel Aviv (population 500,000), especially in its’ Southern neighborhoods.

Many of these people fled genocide, forced and indefinite military conscription, or other forms of human rights abuses. They entered Israel through its Southern border with Egypt between the years 2005-2012, until a border security fence was constructed to prevent further entry. Over half of the group submitted asylum claims that remain pending in Israel’s Ministry of Interior, they are therefore termed asylum seekers in our research and publications.

Asylum seekers from Sudan and Eritrea (‘asylum seekers’ from hereon) cannot be deported due to risks in their home countries. They have remained in Israel for over a decade with a temporary document that grants no social, health, or welfare rights. Despite recognizing them as non-removable, the state has repeatedly threatened to detain and deport this group collectively, leaving them with a tenuous legal standing after more than a decade of life in the state. Asylum seekers are able to work in the state based on a verbal agreement of non-enforcement of restrictions. They rely on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that facilitate access to the few services provided by state authorities or replace the state in service provision all together.

About a dozen NGOs provide asylum seekers with basic rights and services. Organizations differ by focus of services provided – health, welfare, legal, educational, psycho-social, and more. Most are based in South Tel Aviv but serve asylum seekers – and other non-Jewish migrants - from all over Israel.

 

Sample Description

We chose to interview organizations based on their central roles in aiding the asylum-seeking community during the crisis. Snowballing was used to locate key actors in the field.

Overall, we conducted fifteen (15) interviews with:

• municipal actors from the Social Services and Community Administrations (4)

• local NGO’s (5)

• national and international organizations (3)

• and activists from the asylum seeking community (3)

 

Findings

Project findings indicate that Tel Aviv Municipality extended services to asylum seekers during the pandemic, beyond times of routine. These included COVID-19 testing, physical and digital dissemination of guidelines in English, Tigrinya and Arabic, increased patrols and inspection teams to disperse gatherings and respond to public order issues, Vaccination Center opening for undocumented persons, provision of relief and support through Mesila (Tel Aviv Municipality’s unit for migrant communities), services for sick and quarantined through the Municipality’s Corona Command and Control Center.

The municipality also distributed food vouchers, frozen prepared meals, packages containing staple foods and baby formula to asylum seekers and their families. It forged collaborations with the Government of Israel to release the mandatory deposits that were deducted from the workers’ wages and held in escrow until their departure from Israel.

NGOs – Provided humanitarian aid on wide-scale, translating and disseminating information, surveyed community needs, and advocating for policies and solutions from government or municipality, provided services (Health, Education, Psycho-social).

Community activists – Delivered and distributed humanitarian aid, surveyed community needs and reported to NGOs or authorities, translated and disseminated information, participated in meetings to collaborate with organizations and initiatives

National and international organizations provided, assisted, and coordinated humanitarian aid, translated and disseminated information, advocated for policies in accordance with global norms and conventions. Set up, implemented, and monitored the Aid Fund which was the first ever government funded welfare support for asylum seekers. Fostered networks and connections between municipal actors, state ministries, NGOs, and community activists.

 


 

Policy recommendations

 

Main lessons:

Importance of pre-existing infrastructures to rely on in times of emergency

The need for a central coordinating body

Flexibility in work culture

Increased communication networks and information exchange (including ICT)

Community involvement as crucial

 

Policy Recommendations:

Duplicate the model of Mesila to other cities, taking account of specific local contexts

Embrace ad hoc initiatives from civilians and migrant community organising in times of crisis

Consider vulnerable sub-groups that require additional adaptation

 


 

Related Links

 

Mesila
Municipal Unit for the Foreign Community – provides information, mediation, advocacy, rights, humanitarian aid, counseling, assistance with agencies. Aid for asylum seekers during COVID was funded by donations raised by Mesila and matched by the emergency fund of the TLV Foundation.

 

Tel Aviv Municipality
Tel Aviv Municipality’s efforts to manage the pandemic were coordinated by the Mayor and the Director General. The Social Service Administration oversees public health, and headed the Corona Task Force.

 

Eritrean Women’s Community Center
Community-based center that was founded in 2011 to promote the rights of women in the community. The Director of the organization was interviewed.

 

Physicians for Human Rights Israel
Advocating equal rights to health

 

Hotline for Refugees and Migrants
Provide information, legal aid, advocacy.

 

The Garden Library
Education and Community Strength

 

ASSAF
Aid Organization for Asylum Seekers and Refugees (ASSAF) offer Psycho-social support

 

Elifelet
Early childhood education, therapy, and humanitarian aid

 

JOINT Elka Taskforces
The Joint (American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee) is the largest Jewish humanitarian organization in the world. Joint Elka focuses on system challenges. It Partners with government, local and regional authorities, social and business sector.

Center for International Migration and Integration
An NGO established by JDC Israel to assist
Israeli society and government in dealing with changing migration patterns.

UNHCR Israel

 


 

Contact: Nir Cohen