Guterres: COVID-19 Opportunity to Build Back Better

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during his participation in the African Union summit on February 8, 2020 (AFP)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during his participation in the African Union summit on February 8, 2020 (AFP)
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Guterres: COVID-19 Opportunity to Build Back Better

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during his participation in the African Union summit on February 8, 2020 (AFP)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during his participation in the African Union summit on February 8, 2020 (AFP)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic could exacerbate various difficulties, economic shocks, and long-standing conflicts in the Arab region.

He, however, stressed that the region is blessed with tremendous diversity and potential that can be invested as an opportunity to build back better.

In his recently released policy brief on COVID-19 and Arab Region, Guterres outlined four sets of priorities to help these countries build back better and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the 2030 deadline.

First, “slow the spread of the disease, end the conflict and attend to the most vulnerable.”

Second, “build back better by bolstering the capacity of vulnerable groups and deepening social protection reforms for greater equality and inclusion.”

Third, “boost economic recovery through more diversified and green economic models.”

Finally, “prioritize human rights, ensure a vibrant civil society and free media, and create more accountable institutions that will increase citizen trust and strengthen the social contract.”

He further expected the region’s economy to contract by 5.7 percent in 2020.

“With millions more pushed down the economic ladder, fully one-quarter of the Arab population may live in poverty,” he noted, warning that “in a region already rife with tensions and inequalities, this will have profound consequences on political and social stability.”

“Some communities are especially hard hit, including women, migrants — who represent 40 percent of the workforce — and the 55 million people who already rely on life-saving humanitarian assistance.”

He said those caught in armed conflict face particular challenges, especially the 26 million refugees and internally displaced persons, who are among the most exposed to the virus.

The regional economy has suffered multiple shocks — from the virus, as well as the sharp drop in oil prices, remittances, and tourism, he added.

High dependence on oil resources, tourism, and remittances – sectors that are negatively impacted by the pandemic, in addition to protracted conflict, further aggravate the impact of COVID-19 on the Arab region, the brief read.

“Arab countries whose economies are already vulnerable, were made even more so by the COVID-19 crisis.”

Guterres stressed that vulnerable groups, including refugees, migrants, displaced persons, women, young people, the unemployed, those living in slums, and workers in the informal sector, are at risk of becoming even poorer in the absence of universal social protection floors.

About 17 million jobs have been lost, he noted, to be added to the 14.3 million unemployed in the region pre-COVID-19.



As Iran Tensions Build, US Military Moves Warplanes to Reinforce Middle East 

A B-2 Spirit Bomber from the US Air Force is seen during the annual Red Flag military exercise between the United States, Britain and Australia, in Nevada, US, January 23, 2024. (Reuters)
A B-2 Spirit Bomber from the US Air Force is seen during the annual Red Flag military exercise between the United States, Britain and Australia, in Nevada, US, January 23, 2024. (Reuters)
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As Iran Tensions Build, US Military Moves Warplanes to Reinforce Middle East 

A B-2 Spirit Bomber from the US Air Force is seen during the annual Red Flag military exercise between the United States, Britain and Australia, in Nevada, US, January 23, 2024. (Reuters)
A B-2 Spirit Bomber from the US Air Force is seen during the annual Red Flag military exercise between the United States, Britain and Australia, in Nevada, US, January 23, 2024. (Reuters)

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reinforced US military capability in the Middle East with more warplanes, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, amid a more than two-week-old US bombing campaign in Yemen and mounting tensions with Iran.

The Pentagon's brief statement did not specify which aircraft were being deployed or where precisely they were sent.

However, as many as six B-2 bombers have relocated in the past week or so to a US-British military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, according to US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The B-2s have stealth technology and are equipped to carry the heaviest US bombs and nuclear weapons.

"Should Iran or its proxies threaten American personnel and interests in the region, the United States will take decisive action to defend our people," Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement.

The US military's Strategic Command has declined to say how many B-2s have reached Diego Garcia and noted that it does not comment on exercises or operations involving the B-2.

There is already considerable firepower in the Middle East and the US military will soon have two aircraft carriers in the region.

US President Donald Trump threatened Iran on Sunday with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program.

While B-2 bombers have been employed to strike buried Houthi targets in Yemen, most experts say use of the stealthy bomber is overkill there and the targets aren't buried so deeply.

However, the B-2 is equipped to carry America's most potent bomb -- the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator. That is the weapon that experts say could be used to strike Iran's nuclear program.

There are only 20 B-2 bombers in the Air Force's inventory so they are usually used sparingly.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said on Monday the US would receive a strong blow if Trump followed through with his threats.

Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Commander Amirali Hajizadeh threatened US forces in the Middle East, noting American bases in the Middle East and adding: "They are in a glass house and should not throw stones."

One official told Reuters that the US military was also moving some air defense capabilities from Asia to the Middle East.

In his 2017-2021 term, Trump withdrew the US from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran's disputed nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump also reimposed sweeping US sanctions.

Since then, Iran has far surpassed that deal's limits on uranium enrichment.

Western powers accuse Iran of having a clandestine agenda to develop nuclear weapons capability by enriching uranium to a high level of fissile purity, above what they say is justifiable for a civilian atomic energy program. Tehran says its nuclear program is wholly for civilian energy purposes.