ICRC: Corona's implications to involve Middle East in health crisis, socio-economic earthquake

Fabrizio Carbone, the Regional Director for the Near East and Middle East said: "There are two threats facing the Middle East today; the possible outbreak of the virus on a large scale in the conflict areas and the signs of socio-economic turmoil in sight, and the two crises may result in severe humanitarian consequences."

The Regional Director indicated that the Covid-19 pandemic threatens with global socio-economic repercussions, and these repercussions will severely hit the conflict areas in the region, where millions of people are already striving to live in light of poor health care, limited water and electricity if any, interruption of livelihoods, high prices and the destruction of infrastructure.

Mr. Fabrizio Carbone, the Regional Director for the Near East and Middle East stressed that the pandemic will undoubtedly exacerbate humanitarian needs, and new needs will emerge unless the international community integrates the socio-economic dependencies into response mechanisms, and the local authorities and response agencies must mobilize the necessary support now to ensure the protection of people's lives and the ways to make a living and food security later."

In the statement in which he mentioned Syria, Iraq, Yemen, the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Jordan, the director urged the authorities in the troubled region to prepare for "potential devastating repercussions" and "social and economic earthquakes."

D.H