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Yemen Crisis Escalates as Former Allies Clash Amid Health Crisis

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At the start of the conflict in Yemen, the opposing sides were clear. Iran backed the Shia Houthi rebels, while Sunni powers Saudi Arabia and the UAE supported the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. US weaponry supported the Saudi-Emirati bloc and at first glance, the Houthis rebels appeared to stand little chance.

Five years on, the country has been divided into regions controlled by Houthis, the Saudi-backed national government, and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) backed by the UAE. Even more surprisingly, the two Sunni proxies are actively fighting each other over territorial control. The STC recently declared “independence” and claimed to control most of Yemen’s southern regions.

The declaration has upended a fragile truce negotiated between the Saudis and the Houthis. A ceasefire was aimed at providing much-needed measures to control the spread of COVID-19 in the war-torn country. As cases started to appear, the national government and the STC resumed hostilities over control of the vital port city of Aden.

The fight for Aden

On Monday, May 11, fighting erupted between the national government and the STC that holds Aden. The city has been a vital trading hub for centuries and continues to be an important entry point for aid and weapons shipments.

Saudi-backed government forces set off to Aden on Monday as tanks and soldiers made their way southwest. The road to Aden was anything but clear as UAE-backed forces ambushed the army, firing rocket-propelled grenades at the advancing government forces.

A spokesperson for the UAE-backed council told Arab News that the government offensive was stopped after Saudi-led forces hit several vehicles and captured troops. The two groups who entered the conflict as allies now fight over the future of the country.

The STC that declared self-rule over parts of the South is hoping for a two-state solution. During colonial times, different imperialist powers controlled the North and South and both regions faced different decolonization processes before uniting on May 22, 1990. The UAE proxy is now hoping to again segregate the country and realize peace though a two-state solution.

The national government instead aims to again exercise control over the entire country from its traditional capital, Sanaa, that is currently under Houthi control. In order to realize this, the Saudi-backed group now faces a threat from both the Houthis it originally intended to fight, and the Council in the Southwest that will not agree to unification.

Accusations of COVID-19 misreporting

Yemen has faced a continuous state of political crisis for nearly a decade. No party has addressed the causes of street protests in 2011 as poverty, corruption, and poor healthcare continue to worsen.

Amid the devastation of war, the threat of an uncontrolled COVID-19 epidemic has worried both locals and international dignitaries such as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Houthi and Saudi negotiators had managed to establish a tenuous ceasefire but the declaration of self-rule in the country’s South has resulted in renewed clashes, even as authorities are aware that COVID-19 has been detected in the country.

Yemen has now officially confirmed 56 cases, of which nine patients died and one recovered. Yemeni authorities have declared Aden to be an “infected city” as rival factions accuse each other of under-reporting cases. The Houthis that control Sanaa have not reported any cases, prompting the national government to accuse them of hiding their epidemic even as WHO members struggle to gauge the scale of the local health crisis.

The Yemenis’ situation is dire. Both dengue fever and Chikungunya fever have claimed dozens of lives in the past month, according to health officials. With few people bolstered by strong immune systems remaining in the country, the impact of a local COVID-19 outbreak could prove disastrous. 

 

Read also: Yemeni Government: Houthis Are Hiding COVID-19 Clusters

Al Aqsa Mosque to Reopen After Eid

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On Tuesday, May 19, Muslims around the world received some bittersweet news. While Al Aqsa Mosque will remain closed for Eid-al-Fitr, the end is in sight as the mosque in Jerusalem will reopen following two months of unprecedented vacancy.

The Jordan-based Waqf council that administers the mosque announced it will be taking precautions to ensure the health of visitors. For the past two months only Waqf staff could pray at the holy site, but soon its doors will once again open to Muslims from around the world.

Social distancing fears

“Mosques in Makkah, Madinah, Al-Azhar, Amman and other mosques have also been closed for the protection of the health of worshipers,” Waqf council member Mahdi Abdelhadi told Arab News. Mosques, churches, and temples around the world have seen unprecedented closures during the pandemic.

The Waqf council has reiterated that they will have no control over the flow of worshippers once the mosque is open. With Al Aqsa having been closed for months, officials fear that the holy site will see a crowded influx of Muslims eager to once again pray communally.

Return to normalcy

Al Aqsa mosque is located in East Jerusalem where 67 cases of COVID-19 have been detected, out of a total of 576 cases in the Palestinian territories. Some Muslims chose to perform Ramadan prayers outside the deserted mosque but as with Mecca and Medina’s holy sites, the mosques have remained mostly empty.

The reopening of Islam’s most important mosques symbolizes a return to “normalcy” for many people who spent the entirety of Ramadan at home. What is normally a festival of neighborly interactions and quality time with family has been a lonely experience, and many will experience relief seeing the most prominent holy sites reopen.

Rituals

Roughly two million people perform the Hajj pilgrimage every year, a centuries-long steady stream of visitors that the pandemic disrupted. Saudi officials urged Muslims to delay Hajj planning as much remains unclear about the true conclusion to the global health crisis.

The Saudi government is experimenting with a variety of high-tech solutions in order to ensure visitors’ safety. Millions may flock to Medina’s Prophet’s Mosque and walk around the Kaaba in Mecca once the kingdom again allows visitors.

Public spaces

Now that governments around the world are gradually easing restrictions, large public events remain the final step in most plans. While religious gatherings in smaller groups are again permitted in some countries, the risks of allowing hundreds or thousands of people in a closed space concerns health officials.

With countries reopening public spaces and several dozen possible vaccines in development, we will soon know more regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect religious and social events going forward.

COVID-19 Aviation: Job Cuts, Social Distancing, Cabin Crews in Full PPE

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The COVID-19 pandemic and associated travel restrictions have hit the airline industry hard. The pain deepened further today for employees of Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways after it announced significant redundancies “across several areas.” 

Meanwhile, long-haul competitor Qatar Airways announced cabin crews would begin wearing full personal protective (PPE) gear to protect and reassure passengers as the pandemic wears on.

Etihad Airways job cuts 

State-owned Etihad Airways told American news outlet CNBC that it had no choice but to lay off employees as the majority of its fleet is still grounded due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

“The coronavirus pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to businesses around the world, and Etihad is no exception,” an airline spokesperson told CNBC on Tuesday.

“It is clear the demand for travel in the near future will be significantly reduced and as a result we must make difficult decisions to ensure Etihad will weather this storm,” they added. 

Two separate sources told Reuters that hundreds of jobs had already been cut and more losses were expected in the coming days and weeks. 

In a positive development for Etihad staff, the company announced late on Tuesday afternoon that it had signed a six-month strategic partnership agreement with Global Aerospace Logistics (GAL) that may help it retain employees.  

According to Emirati state-run news agency WAM, “GAL offers aircraft sustainment and servicing solutions for military and civilian clients.” 

Under the new arrangement, Etihad staff can be seconded to GAL to provide “expertise and experience” in the areas of maintenance, operations, and supply chain and commercial management. 

Etihad CEO Tony Douglas said he was delighted by the new partnership, initiated by GAL Vice Chairman Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan.

“Like airlines the world over, Etihad Airways is having to review its current structure and resources and this partnership allows us the opportunity to retain talent for the future; while supporting colleagues in another Abu Dhabi aviation organisation,” Douglas told WAM.

New coronavirus look for Qatar Airways crews 

Qatar Airways provided a glimpse into the future of aviation in the time of coronavirus when it said on Monday that all cabin crews will begin wearing full PPE.

Cabin crew members were already required to wear masks and gloves but the airline said fully suiting up will help “reassure” passengers, encouraging them to keep flying despite the global COVID-19 pandemic.  

“Cabin crew will wear the PPE suit over their uniforms in addition to safety goggles, gloves and a mask to provide even greater reassurance to customers in addition to enhanced hygienic measures already in place,” Qatar Airways said in a media release. 

The Doha-based carrier also advised that from May 25, passengers are required to “wear face coverings inflight,” and is recommending people bring their own for “fit and comfort purposes.”  

Qatar is one of the few airlines that has continued to fly throughout the coronavirus crisis.   

In-flight social distancing not practical  

CEO of Australian long-haul flyer Qantas, Alan Joyce, said on May 19 that social distancing during flights will drive up prices and push customers away.

“Social distancing on an aircraft isn’t practical,” Joyce said in response to suggestions that keeping middle seats empty could help ensure passenger safety when the industry restarts.  

Keeping the middle seat empty would mean only 22 passengers could fly on a small 128-seat aircraft, a proposition Joyce decried as impractical and costly. 

“That means airfares are going to be eight to nine times more than they are today,” he said. 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) backs Joyce, and said it supports mandatory face-coverings for passengers and crews, over social distancing, as a way to kick-start the industry. 

Read also: Aviation: Qatar Airways To Scale Up Services, Cut Jobs

 

 

HRW Report on COVID-19 in Prison’s Ruffles Qatar’s Government

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The Qatari government said the HRW report was “false” and asserts  only 12 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded at Doha’s Central Prison. 

HRW reported on May 18 that prisoners were panicking about COVID-19 as a result of overcrowded, unsanitary conditions and a lack of information from prison authorities. 

“Qatari authorities should move quickly to avoid a wider spread of coronavirus that risks infecting prisoners, prison staff, and Doha residents,” HRW deputy Middle East director Michael Page said. 

“The reported spread of Covid-19 in Qatar’s central jail could fast become a public health disaster,” he warned, adding that prison authorities also need to ensure ongoing access to medical care for all inmates.  

HRW spoke to six foreign inmates at Doha’s Central Prison who all decried the cramped conditions, lack of bathroom facilities, and the prison authorities’ COVID-19 curbs. The prisoners said that fear was growing after guards informally advised them that five prisoners had tested positive for COVID-19 on May 2, and the outbreak had grown to 47 cases by May 6.   

“Since then more prisoners, possibly many who are infected, have come to our block,” one prisoner told HRW. “We have beds for 96 people, and now we have around 150 prisoners in this block.”  

Another reported that “people are sleeping on the floor, in the [prison] mosque, in the library; and everyone is scared of each other, we don’t know who could infect us. At a time when we should be isolated from each other, we are being kept like animals in a shed.”  

The Qatar Government’s Communications Office denied those allegations, saying “the Human Rights Watch account is based on unfounded rumors and speculation.” 

Only 12 prisoners had been infected at the Central Prison, the statement continued, adding that COVID-19 prisoners were only reintroduced to the jail “once fully recovered.” 

“Those 12 patients were transferred immediately to a secure, purpose-built medical facility operated on-site by Hamad Medical Corporation where they have received, or continue to receive, first-class medical treatment,” the statement said.

The statement also said the prison implemented “strict control measures” to prevent COVID-19 from spreading among inmates.

The Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani pardoned  500 prisoners in April, but HRW deputy Middle East director Michael Page said that was not enough to reduce the risk to vulnerable prisoners in overcrowded jails.  

Other prisoners HRW spoke to said they have limited access to hand sanitizer, soap and face masks, considered essential for preventing the spread of COVID-19.

“Yesterday the guards gave me two masks for the first time,” one prisoner told the human rights watchdog on May 8. “They said wear them, but no one is wearing them. Most prisoners just put them away and the guards don’t really care, they aren’t telling anyone to wear them.” 

Qatar is in the midst of a relatively large COVID-19 outbreak with 35,606 confirmed cases, but the mortality rate remains low with 15 coronavirus deaths recorded to date. The country’s testing rate has also been high, with 166,182 tests carried out on the population of approximately 2.7 million.

Read also: Will Structural Corruption at FIFA Impact Qatar 2022 World Cup?

Islamic Finance Titan and Philanthropist Saleh Kamel Dies at 79

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Saleh Abdullah Kamel, a prominent Saudi businessman and influential pioneer in Islamic finance, died at age 79 in Jeddah on Monday, May 18, after a lifetime of achievement and influence.

Born in Mecca, Kamel embarked on a career in finance at the age of 22. With just a bachelor’s degree in commerce under his arm, he set off on what would become a long and successful career that would leave a lasting impression on Islamic finance.

Kamel became known working for the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce. His efforts in encouraging trade between Islamic states and promoting the city’s harbor as an important port earned him the name “father of contemporary Islamic finance.” Malaysia presented him with the Royal Award for Islamic Finance in 2010 in recognition of his contributions to the field.

Islamic principles in national and international finance

While Kamel proved a shrewd and efficient businessperson, his views on the use of taxation through Islamic principles stood out. He argued for efficient use of the Islamic concept of “zakat,” a proportional percentage of one’s income that should be donated to the poor. In a country with no income tax, Kamel used the concept of zakat to promote the social benefits of taxation.

Kamel estimated that the “total value of zakat” or the amount that could be “taxed” in Saudi Arabia amounted to roughly $260 billion, a sum that he urged to use to improve the living standards of Saudi citizens.

Kamel urged for zakat to be applied to real estate sales in order to generate revenue to improve economic conditions. “If we had collected zakat from real estate property we would not have faced housing or land problems,” he told Arab News in 2013.

Kamel was a firm believer that applying Islamic finance principles could stop the perpetual cycles of economic crises in modern-day financialized capitalism. Kamel told German chancellor Angela Merkel that economic crises could be averted by considering the Islamic hadith that says “do not sell what you do not own or possess,” which could outlaw speculation on commodity prices and stocks that cause booms and busts.

At 79, Kamel leaves behind an estimated fortune of $2.3 billion and a legacy of innovative thinking and genuine concern to apply religious principles to provide economic opportunities to the less fortunate.

UN Envoy Sees Opportunity for Peace in Syria

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The Special Envoy for Syria, Norwegian diplomat Geir Pedersen, told the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) yesterday that the current lull in military activity has created a moment where positive change is possible if international and internal actors work together.

With much of Syria facing precautionary COVID-19 measures, Pedersen was able to communicate with Syrians across the country through digital platforms. The concerns Syrians expressed left the envoy “struck by how deep their concerns are,” according to his briefing.

Continued violence

Pedersen reported that Syrians expressed widespread disappointment with political actions to improve citizens’ lives. “There is a widespread sense that international competition is more prominent than cooperation, with Syrians paying the price,” the special envoy for Syria told the UNSC.

The UN Envoy reported that Russian-Turkish cooperation had brought relative calm to the war-ravaged Idlib province as both sides are upholding their March ceasefire agreement, but some hostilities continue between opposing factions in the country. Improvised explosive devices continue to pose a threat around Afrin, and intermittent “incidents” of mutual shelling persist.

Echoing the call of the UNSC, Pedersen expressed hope that all key players in Syria could work together to ensure that the current relative calm is “sustained, enhanced, and expanded into a nationwide ceasefire.” However, threats to stability remain after Israeli planes struck targets in Deir-ez-Zor and Aleppo and a military build-up and clashes continue in the country’s southwest.

Daraa, one of the places where the 2011 revolution started, continues to present a “constant risk of escalation” according to the Norwegian diplomat, who also emphasized that instability in Syria is creating instability in the region, especially in Libya where Syrian mercenaries are used.

Pedersen argued for a cooperative approach in countering terrorist groups to ensure stability in the country, saying, “It is hard, but it is not impossible, and we must try.”

The COVID-19 factor

Syria has no mass outbreaks of COVID-19 so far, Pedersen reported to the USNC, with the country reporting 64 total cases of the virus. Six of the 64 cases emerged in northeastern regions, while government-controlled areas claim the remaining 58. The northwest of the country has yet to report any COVID-19 infections.

Early COVID-19 measures helped avert a larger spread, and the government is now easing some restrictions. “The importance of full, sustained, and unimpeded humanitarian access” is important, according to Pedersen. The diplomat warned, however, that restricted access to certain regions creates widened gaps in access to medical supplies.

The UN secretary-general’s call to waive sanctions globally has gone into effect in Syria, the UN Envoy stated. He commends the ”public assurances by relevant states that their sanctions programs relating to Syria neither ban the flow of humanitarian supplies nor target medicine and medical devices.”

Although the threat of a major outbreak had been limited, concerns remain regarding the impact of COVID-19-related measures on Syria’s fragile economy and the further depreciation of the Syrian pound. The virus also continues to threaten Syrian refugees at home and abroad, and Pedersen commented that only a political resolution to instability could truly resolve this.

Human rights and political representation

The UN envoy expressed hope that the Geneva-based discussion to establish a new constitution in Syria could soon continue. “If the Constitutional Committee could work seriously, it could build trust, make an important contribution to a political settlement, and be a door-opener,” Pedersen stated. Because of travel restrictions, the committee has postponed meetings but will resume discussions as soon as flying is once again permitted.

Pedersen reported significant progress in local women’s empowerment. His meetings with the Syrian Women’s Advisory Board continue virtually as travel restrictions continue. The board emphasized the “active leadership role that Syrian women are assuming in their communities, in a context of the severe economic crisis and humanitarian needs.”

The advisory board has asked for assistance in order to “help and protect the most vulnerable Syrians including refugees and internally displaced; children and the elderly,” Pedersen told the UNSC. They had asked for special attention to cases of “women who suffer from violence and abuse, and detainees and abductees who are now at greater risk because of the pandemic.”

Pedersen reported that Syria’s civil society appears frustrated as they “perceive that the political process, and not limited to the Constitutional Committee, has stalled.”

A brief window of opportunity

“There have been too many episodes in the past decade where fleeting opportunities to turn dynamics towards a political path were lost,” Pedersen warned the UNSC. “Those missed moments were followed by renewed violence and a hardening of positions among regional and international actors.”

Pedersen appeared eager to use the current relative peace in the country to further a more sustainable peace: “I want to stress that renewed and meaningful international cooperation, building trust and confidence between international stakeholders and with Syrians, including through reciprocal measures, is essential, and could unlock progress.”

Pedersen believed that bilateral discussions between Russia and the US could prove crucial. Pedersen told the UNSC that “Russian-American dialogue has a key role to play here, and I encourage them to pursue it.”

“Ultimately there is a need to come together to support a renewed effort in a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned, UN-facilitated political process,” Pederson urged.

With a relatively stable situation in Syria, the special envoy expressed his hope for “a political settlement that can meet the legitimate aspirations of all Syrians and fully restore Syria’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity.”

Iran Hands Death Sentence to Couple Who Laundered $200 Million

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A special anti-corruption tribunal sentenced an Iranian couple, Vahid Behzadi and his wife Najva Lasheidaei, to death for money laundering and disruption of the foreign exchange, gold coin markets, and the automotive industry. 

The pair laundered a staggering 32,000 billion rials ($200 million) and authorities found approximately 24,000 Azadi gold coins and 100 kilograms of gold in their home, judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaeili told Iranian media today. 

“[Behzadi and Lasheidaei] were sentenced to death for participating in disruption of the economic system through registering fake orders and an illegal exchange shop, and pre-purchasing more than 6,700 vehicles from Saipa Company and participating in money laundering amounting to 32,000 billion [rials],” Esmaeili said. 

Under Iranian law, the couple has 20 days to appeal the decision. 

Various former employees and the CEO of Saipa, an Iranian automaker, and two politicians were among 50 defendants who went before the anti-corruption court. “More than 40 people were indicted and 34 defendants were convicted in the court,” Esmaeili said. 

Member of Parliament Mohammad Azizi and fellow politician Fereidoun Ahmadi were each sentenced to 61 months in prison. Their convictions are further evidence of the corruption that plagues Iranian politics and come just months after 90 potential candidates for the February parliamentary election were barred from standing, many over corruption concerns.  

Fallen Saipa CEO Mehdi Jamali was sentenced to seven years jail, while his former deputy marketing director received a 15-year sentence and the ex-Saipa security chief Hossein Hashtroodi was handed a 61-month jail term. 

Aside from Saipa’s involvement in the corruption conviction, the Iranian car market has gone into free fall in the past two months. Car prices have jumped by 60%, and the massive increase seems to be just one of the many factors behind President Hassan Rouhani’s decision to sack Trade and Industry Minister Reza Rahmani on May 12.

Read also: Iran and US Desperately Hide Friendly Exchange 

 

 

Six Arab YouTubers Vie for World Record with Virtual Iftar

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Six of the Arab world’s leading online entertainers have decided to band together and host a virtual iftar to help their followers feel more connected and overcome a sense of isolation, as COVID-19 keeps everyone apart this Ramadan. 

In addition to providing an opportunity for fans, family, and friends to enjoy the fast-breaking meal “together” online, they will also try to set a new Guinness World Record for the “Most Views for an Iftar YouTube Livestream Globally,” tomorrow evening. 

The initiative is the brainchild of Iraqi fashion YouTuber Noor Stars, Saudi-American Omar Hussein, and their Saudi Arabian counterparts “The Saudi Reporters” (twins Abdulaziz and Abdullah Bakr), family vlogger Mohamed Moshaya, and lifestyle stars the Ansala Family and Asrar Aref.  

“Ramadan is usually a time where friends and family gather in mosques and homes to break the fast and pray together,” said Moshaya, who has 16.7 million YouTube subscribers.  

“However with this global pandemic, Ramadan this year feels very different, which is why I decided to enlist a couple of my friends in the YouTube community to come together and turn this moment of isolation into celebration,” he explained.

Comedy duo “The Saudi Reporters” said they are excited to take part in the record breaking challenge.  

“As content creators and YouTubers we love entertaining people, and especially in these difficult times we feel it’s our duty to do whatever we can to help people get through this pandemic even with something as small as drawing a smile on people’s faces,” the Bakr twins said.   

The six Arab world YouTube stars are calling for their combined online following of 45 million subscribers to join them on Mohamed Moshaya’s channel for an hour-long online iftar starting at 7 p.m. GST on May 19.   

Read also: Saudi Arabia Ramps Up Diplomacy in Wake of COVID-19, Oil-Related Economic Losses 

 

Oman Bans Eid Gatherings as COVID-19 Cases Remain High

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Oman’s Ministry of Health (MoH) said health officials in the sultanate identified 193 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday, taking the country’s total number of active cases to 3,858. With cases still high, the country’s Supreme Committee for Dealing with COVID-19 decided to ban all Eid el-Fitr gatherings to prevent coronavirus spreading during the religious holiday. 

The ministry also said Oman’s novel coronavirus death toll had risen to 25 after two residents, aged 54 and 67, died from the disease today.

A breakdown of new cases, published on the MoH’s twitter account revealed the majority of new infections were in non-Omanis (121 new cases). While new case numbers are still relatively high, Oman’s novel coronavirus mortality rate has remained low and the number of recoveries grew to 1,496 in total as of May 18. 

Oman’s authorities once again used their daily coronavirus update to remind residents to “adhere to the isolation procedures,” and keep up other anti-COVID-19 measures such as good hand hygiene and wearing a face mask. 

 

 On Monday afternoon the sultanate’s Supreme Committee for Dealing with COVID-19 announced four new decisions on how to manage the country’s virus outbreak. 

The committee followed many other MENA region governments, such as those of Saudi Arabia and Egypt, in banning all Eid el-Fitr gatherings and celebrations. It also extended its best wishes for Eid, wishing the “Omani people further progress and prosperity and the Arab and Islamic nations plentiful bounties, security and stability,” state news outlet Oman News Agency (ONA) reported. 

The meeting, chaired by Interior Minister Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal al Busaidi, made it mandatory for Omanis to wear a face mask in public and authorized the Royal Oman Police to “monitor the compliance of individuals and public and private institutions” and issue fines or arrest violators of anti-coronavirus directives.  

In a positive development for the country’s economy and business sector, the coronavirus committee gave a new group of commercial and industrial activities permission to recommence, but has not yet specified which ones. 

Read also: Will Oman Take On New Role in the Region under Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al Said?

 

Politics Supersede Science at World Health Assembly

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During the opening of the 73th World Health Assembly on May 18, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, urged nations to work together against COVID-19. “We have come together as the nations of the world to confront the defining health crisis of our time,” the WHO chief told world leaders via video-conference.

The two-day event that sets policy for the WHO received unprecedented attention in the face of the global COVID-19 epidemic. What is normally an event to recommit support for the global health institute became a focus point of public frustration.

As medical professionals hope for an increase in cooperation and knowledge-sharing, politicians instead used the occasion to blame China for the crisis.

Urging caution

The WHO chief highlighted the impact of the virus while urging further commitment to resolving the crisis as a global community. “We come in grief for those we have lost, we come with concern for those still fighting for their lives, we come with determination to triumph over this common threat, and we come with hope for the future,” Ghebreyesus told the gathering of global leaders.

With many governments eagerly counting the days until a return to “normalcy,” the WHO urged leaders to not feel as if the fight is won by highlighting the possibility of a resurgence in cases. “It can operate in the dark, spread silently if we’re not paying attention,” the WHO chief said, warning that the virus could “suddenly explode if we aren’t ready.”

Science vs. Politics

“For all the economic, military and technological might of nations, we have been humbled by this very small microbe,” the director-general said as he summed up the economic and human costs of the pandemic. He urged countries to be careful in lifting measures, saying “it’s precisely because we want the fastest possible global recovery that we urge countries to proceed with caution.”

As Ghebreyesus wrapped up his call for solidarity and collaboration, politicians endeavored to do the exact opposite behind the scenes. In the midst of a health crisis, 122 countries decided to spend valuable time calling for a resolution to produce a “systemic review of the world’s response to COVID-19.”

Casting blame

While such an investigation was bound to follow the crisis, many politicians appear to distance the process from their own failures to prepare for the crisis and implement unpopular measures.

In the US, the process is a “political opportunity for the Republicans,” according to Jeffery Wright, an analyst at Eurasia Group. “Blaming the virus on China gives them a chance to deflect blame for Trump’s poor response to the crisis,” Wright said.

Instead of discussing a more coordinated and collaborative response to the ongoing crisis, countries are instead highlighting the WHO’s adherence to the “one China policy” that considers Taiwan as part of China. Politicians are pretending that the WHO’s adherence to the policy is evidence of China’s alleged disproportionate influence over the institute.

What they fail to include is that many of their own governments also do not recognize Taiwan, out of respect for the one-China policy. Only fifteen countries, mainly Caribbean and Pacific island nations, officially recognize Taiwan.