Human Rights Commission: "Basic Survival Rights of Homeless People Must Be Guaranteed Even During COVID-19 Situation"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The National Human Rights Commission has recommended that Seoul City improve homeless welfare facilities and expand free meal services to ensure the survival and safety rights of homeless people amid the ongoing COVID-19 situation.

The Human Rights Commission announced on the 26th that it conducted a site inspection in January of two temporary shelter facilities within the homeless comprehensive support centers under Seoul City's jurisdiction and made these recommendations.

The Commission first pointed out that in the temporary shelter facilities for the homeless, when close contacts of COVID-19 cases occurred, the classification, isolation, and transfer of confirmed cases were delayed, indicating inadequate response according to work procedures (guidelines) or the absence of related guidelines. It also added that emergency sleeping facilities for the homeless were overcrowded and had enclosed structures, exposing them to the risk of COVID-19 cluster infections.

The Commission also judged that medical support for the homeless was insufficient. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, among the nine comprehensive hospital-level homeless medical facilities in Seoul, seven were designated as infectious disease-dedicated hospitals, resulting in the temporary suspension of inpatient treatment for homeless patients in four facilities and a reduction to three hospitals for surgical treatment. The Commission explained, "During the investigation period, we confirmed a case where a homeless patient at risk of ankle amputation due to frostbite in severe cold was not receiving appropriate medical support."

In this regard, the Human Rights Commission recommended to the Mayor of Seoul to ▲ improve homeless welfare facilities and response guidelines to prevent and contain infectious diseases ▲ expand projects such as temporary housing support and free meal provision ▲ and enhance emergency measures and medical support systems for homeless patients.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.