ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic led governments to close borders, air space, and other travel corridors to both international and domestic travelers to curtail the spread of the virus, while some governments also enacted export restrictions on domestically produced or stockpiled medical equipment that was essential for the delivery of medical care. Humanitarian organizations continued to deliver lifesaving medical care in crises around the world, and in many cases, scaled-up activities in response to needs that were created or exacerbated by the pandemic. However, with few exceptions, border control measures enacted throughout the pandemic did not specifically exempt humanitarian organizations, personnel, or cargo and created very real logistical and legal challenges to scaling up and maintaining lifesaving humanitarian assistance for people affected by crises. This chapter discusses these legal and logistical barriers, with a specific focus on Canadian border restrictions, and proposes recommendations for humanitarian exemptions for future consideration.
