New corona infection spread Humanitarian crisis deepens in conflict area June 13 17:08
Due to the global spread of the new coronavirus, in a conflict area where fighting continues, the spread of infection becomes more serious and the evacuees displaced from their homes are seriously affected by weak medical environments and food supply systems. Humanitarian crises have deepened due to lack of support.
Infection with the new coronavirus has spread to conflict areas, and according to a summary at 1 pm on the 13th of Johns Hopkins University in the United States, 23,546 infected people have been confirmed in Afghanistan and in the Middle East. In conflict areas, there are 632 in Yemen, 409 in Libya and 164 in Syria.
However, the actual conditions of infection are not well understood due to the weak medical and testing systems in the conflict area.
Of these, in Yemen, where the civil war has continued for more than 5 years, half of the medical institutions are not functioning due to the impact of the civil war, and there is a shortage of testing equipment and respirators, etc. In the city of Aden, the spread of infection is expected to become more serious than the statistics, such as the construction of a new cemetery.
Similarly, in Syria, where the civil war continues, impacts on the global economy will reduce foreign aid and donations to NGOs, and food aid to refugees displaced from the war will be greatly reduced. , Food shortages are also spurring.
Although the United Nations calls for a ceasefire as a priority for fighting the virus rather than fighting, fighting continues in many conflict areas, and the spread of infection deepens the humanitarian crisis.
Medical collapse in Yemen
In Yemen in the Middle East, due to the impact of the civil war over 5 years, the local medical environment has deteriorated, and the infection with the new coronavirus has spread, causing serious medical disruption.
In Yemen, a civil war has been bogged down between the Hadi government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia, and the rebel Houthis, which is supported by Iran.
Due to the impact of the civil war, half of the medical institutions that were originally functioning are not functioning, and the chronic lack of medicines and medical equipment has spread the new coronavirus infection.
According to the summary of Johns Hopkins University in the United States, the number of infected people in Yemen is more than 630 and the death toll is about 140, but the actual situation is not known because the inspection system is not sufficient, and there are more infected and dead people than statistics. It is supposed to come out.
Of these, in the southern major cities of Aden, the number of people buried in a day is estimated to be about eight times as high as before the infection spread, and new cemeteries are being created one after another in vacant lots.
Hisham Auraki, 32, who died last month in an Aden resident, had a boy who was one and a half years old and his wife was pregnant.
Although he had symptoms of pneumonia, he was unable to undergo examinations or treatment at the hospital, and his symptoms worsened at home.
My older brother Yasser, who has been nursing at home, said, "I was rejected by several hospitals because I could not accept patients with the new coronavirus because I could not respond and I had no ventilator." I had it accepted by the hospital, but I couldn't make it in time."
In Aden, an international medical aid group, Doctors Without Borders, established a temporary hospital with more than 40 beds to accommodate patients with the new coronavirus in early May, but it is still fully occupied.
In addition, because there is a shortage of ventilators and the supply of necessary oxygen is also disrupted, it is said that there were only about 6 beds available to diagnose serious patients.
Dr. Hyril Moussa, who had been treated at this hospital for about 3 weeks, said, “There were many patients who were not able to be helped because they had already been severely ill, and we were in a situation where we always needed hundreds of oxygen cylinders. I faced a tough decision on who to wear the ventilator."
Cler Azon, who is head of support for Yemen as a group of doctors without borders, points out that medical disruption is occurring in various places and that infection is spreading throughout the country.
However, with the global spread of infection, it is felt that strengthening medical support in conflict areas is not easy.
“Our doctors are too busy in their home country to reach Yemen. Already, many health workers have been infected and some have died. Coronas are more horrifying than air strikes.” In the real world, we want the international community to cooperate in sharing protective equipment and medicine to protect the frontline physicians."
New Corona spurs humanitarian crisis in Syria
In Syria, where the civil war continues, the global spread of the new coronavirus has affected the support of refugees and others displaced from their homes by battle, and has spurred a humanitarian crisis.
Of these, in the northwestern part, which is the last base of the rebels, from around December last year to March this year, nearly 1 million people were forced to leave their homes due to a severe air strike by the Assad administration. It was.
Even now, hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to evacuate as camp refugees and have received various support from aid groups such as NGOs, but we are facing a situation where it does not reach enough ..
Syrian charity, an NGO operating in Syria, has been providing support to the refugees mainly in the north, as well as supporting schools such as running schools and orphanages for children.
Most of the money for the activities came from donations from Syrians living in France, but due to the economic downturn caused by the new coronavirus, donations dropped significantly.
Last year it was said that about 300,000 euros (36 million yen) was donated in one year, but this year only 35,000 euros have been gathered in the past half year, which is about 10% of last year. I am.
For this reason, it was forced to drastically reduce support, and more than 2000 households distributed food every month, but now it is full of distribution to 500 households, and the warehouse for storing food is almost empty. ..
Moreover, the price of food has soared due to the crash of the local currency, the price of bread, which is the staple food, has jumped more than double that of the previous time, and the distribution of meals for orphans will not be left.
Mohamed Jaddan, an NGO supporter for refugees, said, "Because of the lack of funds, the support that refugee people are seeking cannot be delivered. If it continues to stop, it would be a tragic situation. And we are in a serious humanitarian crisis.”
The family of Mustafa Amrish (33), who received support from this NGO, fled to Aflin in northern Syria in February due to severe air strikes by the administration.
I live with my wife Fatoma (29) and three young children in an unfinished building that does not even have window glass.
I can't get food support from NGOs anymore, so I'm now hungry by asking nearby stores and securing food with promises to pay later.
However, the prospect of payment to Mustafa, who lost their jobs were forced to shelter life is not standing, the future, will not have what Ikeru to eat the children anxiety.
The effects of the new coronavirus also cast a dark shadow on the treatment of Ritaju-chan, a 5-year-old daughter who has a leg disorder and needs surgery.
To get surgery, I have to go to Turkey, a neighboring country with medical facilities, but I am unable to take it because the border is closed due to measures to prevent infection.
It is necessary to undergo surgery by half a year after Ritaju-chan is 6 years old, and I am worried about when the border will open.
Fatma said, “We have experienced airstrikes and shelling, and now we have a new coronavirus. We just want to have a normal life. We don't take anything from our children and we give them what they want. That is my dream."
Expert "Countries have no choice but to cooperate"
Hideo Shinoda, a professor at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, who is familiar with the world's conflict problems, said that the spread of the new coronavirus in the conflict area spreads: On the other hand, it is believed that there are powers that aim to expand the power by taking advantage of such a situation.If the infection continues to spread, the composition of the conflict will become more complicated and there is concern that it will worsen by involving neighboring countries.” I am analyzing.
Regarding the trend of the international community over conflict areas, "The conflict between the United States and China is intensifying, and the European countries that have supported the conflict areas are unable to provide sufficient support due to their own infection control measures. In such a situation, the United Nations Security Council has not been able to take effective measures."
On top of that, he says, "Japan and other countries have no choice but to work together to find effective ways to stop infections under limited budgets and environments."