Conflict and poverty 2020
United Nations has sounded alarm on how the coronavirus pandemic has exasperated discrimination and other human rights violations. And this all is capable of fueling conflict in the world. In the most vulnerable nations, the indirect consequences of Covid 19 pandemic are much larger than the virus’ direct impacts. So far, Covid virus has infected over 28 million people so far, leaving more than 0.9 million dead.
Socio-economic impacts of pandemic
Alerting the council on the indirect economic and health effects of the pandemic in vulnerable countries, UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said, due to the virus, there will be higher poverty, lower life expectancy, more starvation, less education and more child fatalities. One third of Covid-19 cases and death reports are from the countries with humanitarian or refugee crises, or higher vulnerabilities.
However, what is the full extent of impact is yet unknown because of low number of testing. Many people are unenthusiastic in seeking medical help in fear of quarantine measures or getting medical treatment of no use. He expressed satisfaction over lower fatality rate from COVID-19 in fragile countries, contrary to earlier projections. However, indirect impact of virus is higher in these countries, he said.
In fragile countries, the pandemic’s prime indirect effects are economic. These include declining commodity prices, deteriorating remittances, trade interruptions, and lockdown measures. These impacts have made more difficult for people to survive, particularly for day labourers and many women. The most fragile countries are facing lethal diseases – measles, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDs, but people are getting little health services.
Political impacts of pandemic
In wake of Covid-19 pandemic, in March, the UN had called for temporarily ceasefire in Colombia, Ukraine, Philippines and Cameroon. Many temporary truces have expired without any solid improvement on the ground. Still, UN is trying to initiate peace negotiations and ceasefires in conflict-broken Yemen, Libya, Syria and other sides of the world, said UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo.
People’s perceptions of authorities not addressing the pandemic in effective ways or not being transparent about its impact are driving factors behind instability in the countries. The reports of coronavirus-related corruption are heightening this trend. Several human rights challenges are mounting during the pandemic, resulting in increased discrimination, she said.
Discrimination prevails in terms of health services accessibility, rising violence against women especially domestic during lockdowns, and increasing limitations on media, civic space and freedom of expression, DiCarlo added. Moreover, people are using social media platforms for disinformation, stigma and hate speech, particularly against migrants and foreigners.
Despite ceasefire calls from the UN, and over 100,000 personnel trying to prevent and respond to threats to civilians, there has been no improvement in the past six months, said UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix. He raised concerns about continuous violence in Mali, Central African Republic and Congo. Pandemic has disrupted peace agreements and transitions in countries like South Sudan, he said.
Conflict and poverty 2020: Heightening issues
Explaining the condition of children during Covid outbreak, Lowcock said the school closure due to pandemic has put over 50 crore children in heightened humanitarian crises and fragility, and many girls are forced to leave schools for good. In 45 countries facing humanitarian or refugee crises or high levels of vulnerability, over 80 million children less than one year in age are in danger of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Food insecurity was going upward, he said, based on reports from UN World Food Program and Food and Agriculture Organization. And this happened because people lost their livelihoods, and had to cut their consumption. This has put 27 countries on risk of sharp worsening in food security. And an additional seven million children are facing the danger of child wasting or acute malnutrition in the first year of corona in absence of quick action.
Coronavirus, like any other pandemic, is becoming bigger threat to socio-economic arena than its immediate health impacts on the population. In a few months of its kick-off, the virus has increased vulnerabilities. It has widened chasm between rich and poor, urban and rural, men and women, literate and illiterate and so on. And the situation is speculated to be deteriorating in coming days.
