March 31 (The Killid Group) — Urgent action is needed to fight COVID-19 pandemic in conflict-ravaged countries, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned Monday.
In war-devastated countries such as Afghanistan, Syria Yemen, South Sudan, and Nigeria, it will be “nearly impossible” to combat COVID-19 without an immediate response by states and humanitarian organizations, warned ICRC in a statement.
The ICRC said in the statement by its Geneva headquarters that COVID-19 has “overwhelmed” advanced health care systems, let alone these countries which are already ravaged by conflicts.
“Warfare has not stopped because of the virus, and victims of conflict still need and deserve assistance,” said the Red Cross, adding that many of the places 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, the head of the ICRC.
The reported cases of infection from the pandemic in the countries mentioned are currently low, yet it is considered a significant threat to these countries.
Afghanistan currently has 174 confirmed cases and four deaths, according to health officials in the country.
Nigeria has 131 cases, with two fatalities; Syria 10 cases with two deaths; while Yemen has no recorded case, according to data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.
South Sudan, which also has a fragile health system like Yemen has no reported case so far, according to the tally provided by JHU’s Coronavirus Center.
The contagious coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19 which first emerged in China’s central city of Wuhan has now spread to almost every continent and has killed thousands of people, mostly in Italy and Spain.
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