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WHO Says Pandemic Situation in East Mediterranean 'Not Getting Better'

Pupils arrange their books following the reopening of their school, in Baghdad, Iraq. (Reuters)
Pupils arrange their books following the reopening of their school, in Baghdad, Iraq. (Reuters)
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WHO Says Pandemic Situation in East Mediterranean 'Not Getting Better'

Pupils arrange their books following the reopening of their school, in Baghdad, Iraq. (Reuters)
Pupils arrange their books following the reopening of their school, in Baghdad, Iraq. (Reuters)

A World Health Organization (WHO) official has expressed concern over the coronavirus pandemic in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Fourteen countries in the region have reported a high increase in their daily coronavirus infections and related-deaths, warned Ahmed al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.

“The situation is not getting better and the direction many countries are going towards is worrying,” he said during a virtual press conference.

WHO officials and UNICEF’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Ted Chaiban participated in the online event.

Jordan, Iraq and Iran reported the highest numbers of new cases, while Jordan, Iraq and Pakistan registered the greatest number of COVID-19 deaths.

There are several factors that contribute to the increase in the number of new cases, Mandhari noted, including the “concerning” fast spreading new variants.

However, he stressed, people’s non-compliance to the preventive measures, such as social distancing, wearing masks, hygiene, respiratory etiquette, avoiding crowded places and opening windows, are all other major reasons.

As Ramadan and Easter approach, Mandhari warned “there is a danger of seeing (further) increases in the cases as was the case at the end of last year during the holidays.”

“We realize that these are important occasions that deserve to be celebrated, but we urge you to protect yourselves and others,” he added.

Commenting on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution campaigns in the region, he remarked that 12 countries have already received the vaccine doses as part of the global COVAX agreement, the most recent of which were Egypt and Yemen.

He complained about the global shortage in the vaccine, which led to delays in providing tens of millions of doses.

“We remain concerned about the inequity in the provision and distribution of vaccines across the region,” he stated, noting that many rich countries have already received a large number of doses that surpass their needs.

He urged these countries to send some of the surplus to those that need them, so that everyone - especially in countries with limited resources in the Eastern Mediterranean - has access to vaccines.

Mandhari pointed out that COVAX cannot deliver vaccines it does not have or compete with rich countries that buy millions of doses directly from manufacturers.

Chaiban, for his part, reiterated Mandhari’s comments and stressed the need to provide COVAX with more vaccines.

“There is a global demand for the vaccine faced with global shortage, and this limits the its capacity,” he said.

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Arab World

Aoun Wants Formation of ‘Consensual’ Lebanese Govt Representing All Components

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
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Aoun Wants Formation of ‘Consensual’ Lebanese Govt Representing All Components

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is advocating the formation of a government of “consensus” that includes representatives from all political factions.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam has requested that parliamentary blocs submit non-partisan nominees for ministerial positions, emphasizing that they must not belong to any political party.

Aoun stressed on Tuesday that all components of society have the right to be represented in the government, parliament and public administration, as this is already practiced in the army.

“We have significant opportunities that we hope to seize by uniting all elements of Lebanese society—civil, spiritual, and political. Together, we can rebuild our nation,” he declared.

Highlighting the importance of meeting international expectations, Aoun hoped for the rapid formation of a government to achieve political, economic, and security stability, which would allow citizens “to live with dignity, not merely in relative comfort.”

During meetings with professional delegations at the Presidential Palace, Aoun said: “We are at a crossroads. Either we take advantage of the current circumstances and rise above sectarian, religious, and political divisions, or we head in a different direction and bear full responsibility for failing to fulfill our duties.”

Negotiations between Aoun, Salam, and political factions over the formation of a government are ongoing. The discussions, which kicked off last week, have reportedly made progress, with efforts directed toward expediting the government formation process, issuing decrees, preparing a ministerial statement, and securing its vote of confidence from lawmakers.

While the Shiite duo of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement appear to have finalized their proposed nominees for the government, disagreements over the ministerial statement remain.

MP Waddah Sadek, who is backed by the opposition, firmly rejected the inclusion of the “Army, People, Resistance” term in the statement. He declared: “No ‘blocking third’ in the government, and no unconstitutional gimmicks. The slogan of the new phase in Lebanon should be: the ‘Army, People, and State.’”

The Kataeb Party echoed this stance, stressing that Lebanon, emerging from a devastating war between Hezbollah and Israel, must align with the Aoun’s inaugural speech and Salam’s remarks by ensuring the ministerial statement exclusively underscores the state’s monopoly over arms and the defense of the nation.

“The government must act decisively, dismantle militias, strictly enforce the ceasefire, and uphold its provisions across all Lebanese territory,” it demanded.

The Kataeb Party also urged Aoun and Salam to resist the “great extortion” by Hezbollah and Amal to secure specific ministries or positions, in violation of the inaugural speech, calling instead for the application of uniform standards to ensure the government’s success.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah adopted a more confrontational tone.

MP Hussein Hajj Hassan, a member of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, commented: “To those betting on Hezbollah’s weakness or the weakness of the Hezbollah-Amal alliance, what will you say when the government is formed? What will you say when you realize the strength of Hezbollah, the alliance, and the resistance’s supporters across all segments of Lebanese society? What will you say when you see the unwavering determination and unity of the resistance at every critical juncture?”