Fighting COVID-19 difficult in conflict-hit countries; ICRC

Kathmandu, Apr 1

It will be nearly impossible to fight COVID-19 in countries already devastated by conflict unless a concerted response by states and humanitarian organisations is launched immediately, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned.

It said that plans to prevent and respond to the virus must urgently move forward before it gains a foothold in conflict zones.

"COVID-19 represents a major threat to life in the countries with strong health systems. But the threat is even greater in places where health systems have been ravaged by war, where people uprooted by conflict live in close proximity, and where life-saving resources like clean water, soap and medicine are in short supply," read a statement of the international humanitarian organisation.

Additionally, health systems weakened by conflict have reduced capacity for detection, management and the follow-up of cases of sickness, which in turn increases the risk of transmission, according to the ICRC.

“COVID-19 has overwhelmed advanced health care systems. Many of the places where we work lack even basic health care infrastructure, let alone intensive care capacity. Our fear is that unless urgent action is taken to curb the spread of the virus, it will devastate some of the world’s most vulnerable communities,” said Peter Maurer, president of the ICRC.

The ICRC fears the worst for people in prisons and displacement camps around the world. Health systems in conflict zones in places such as Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, northeast Nigeria, and Afghanistan are simply not prepared to handle a flood of COVID-19 cases without a surge in support, it said. 

COVID-19 does not have to be catastrophic for war-torn countries with weakened healthcare systems, but it does require the international community to scale up support.

Last week the International Red Cross and Red Crescent launched an appeal for 800 million Swiss francs, a call for States to boost resources for countries with limited capacity to respond to this urgent threat.

In displacement camps, physical distancing is not possible, and it will be impossible to stop the spread of coronavirus once it enters a camp. ICRC is active in various conflict-affected countries like Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, Iraq, Burkina Faso, Myanmar, Armenia, Congo, Colombia, Palestine, El Salvador, Somalia and Lebanon.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 2 April 2020.