No one doubts that COVID-19 is one of the direst threats the world has ever faced. But at the same time there are ever stronger signs of hope and solidarity, a sense of and desire for togetherness. It is this spirit of global togetherness that gives everyone hope. In this time of crisis, all are neighbors in the world, and success will only be achieved when all people, in all countries, are protected.
The shared sense of responsibility has seen a world come together in ways that has not been seen for some time, and the examples are everywhere. Helping each other is a shared culture for Ethiopians so that investors are helping the community with the financial support and young people are supporting through their labour to collect various materials from the local communities. Following this, the government is also providing various materials to low-income communities those unable to survive due to COVID-19.
Recently, the Addis Ababa City Administration has begun providing a 3 months food aid to 1,000 people. A threemonth supply of food was launched in Lideta and Addis Ketema sub cities which are locked due to corona virus. With the support of the Bill gets’ Foundation for the City of Addis Ababa, the three-month food service was launched on Saturday, 30 May, 2020 focusing on the vulnerable households in the locked areas.
“Our healthy existence is the basis for our survival and well-being. For the sake of health for all of us, many are lonely or isolated. There are those who face the challenges of life in this process,” said Deputy Mayor Takele Uma.
The mayor said that the support was made in collaboration with donors. In his post on his official social media page, the mayor called: “Let us collaborate, help each other, and share this moment of being healthy for all of us.”
Meanwhile, Ministry of Women, Children and Youth (MWCY) provided support to communities in the Somali region for those in the isolation ward at Jigjiga City of Somali State. MWCY has provided a variety of food and hygiene products to temporarily address the economic and social problems of children and youth caused by the Corona virus.
State Minister of MWCY, Alemitu Omod, when delivering the supports said that since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, the Ministry has been mobilizing resources from different bodies to women who are at risk. And it is supporting children and young people and in this effort it is working to alleviate the economic and social outcomes of the disease.
In addition, the Ministry will continue its efforts to reduce the economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreaks. Various food items including soybean, lentils, rice, pasta, as well as baby hygiene, sanitizer and a variety of hygiene products and others are provided, she said.
Zeyneb Haji, head of the Regional Women and Children’s Bureau, thanked the Ministry while receiving the support.
In addition, according to the recent report of UNDP, Women in particular are exposed various problems during this crises. They make up the bulk of the first healthcare responders. If they are working from home, they will likely shoulder an even greater burden of housework and childcare. And they are, in too many cases, in greater danger with their partners. Mounting evidences indicate that domestic violence is surging worldwide as a result of the lock down.
“I urge all governments to put women’s safety first as they respond to the pandemic,” said Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General.
UNDP Mexico is working with the government to support the citizens by developing policies that support and protect women and girls realizing that corona virus affect genders very differently.
Corona virus has made its way to Africa relatively slower than other continents, where it could have devastating consequences. Some 56 percent of Africans live in overcrowded and poor sanitary conditions. Only 34 percent of households have running water, and 71 percent of the workforce relies on informal work. Rural communities in Kenya, Tanzania, and Cape Verde have already been hit hard by collapse of tourism.
“There are so many facts unknown in Africa like how COVID-19 will interact with the young population and the hot weather. The governments are trying their best, but they have structural realities that make their response very difficult,” said UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Mohammed Yahya.
According to UNDP’s data, developed countries have 55 hospital beds, more than 30 doctors and 81 nurses for every 10,000 people. For the same number of people in a less developed country there are seven beds, 2.5 doctors and six nurses. Even basics such as soap and clean water are luxuries for too many. Lockdowns have also made the digital divide more apparent. Billions of people don’t have reliable broadband internet, which limits their ability to work, continue their education, or socialize with lovely ones.
New UNDP estimates for global human development, as a combined measure of the world’s education, health and living standards is on course to decline this year for the first time since the concept was developed in 1990. The decline is expected across the majority of countries – rich and poor – in every region.
The Pandemic exposed the weaknesses in every society by widening the persistent inequality which was a feature of almost every country, even before COVID-19 broke out. People are witnessing only the beginning of the virus’ economic and social implications.
UNDP’s data dashboard widely reveals disparate levels of ability to prepare and respond. Developing countries, and those in crisis, will suffer the most, along with the already vulnerable all over the world; those that rely on the informal economy, women, those living with disabilities, refugees, and the displaced, as well as those that suffer from stigma.
The Ethiopian herald June 2,2020
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
