COVID-19 and threats to irregular migrants in Kuwait and the Gulf.

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.