When Nations Clash People Suffer
Report: 1 to 30 March 2021
Sanctions and the pandemic have worsened the situation for millions of citizens, IDPs, and refugees. Photo credit: UN News.
Throughout the past few years, foreign powers have slapped sanctions on ME nations in an attempt to coerce them to change their actions. Instead, the regimes that they have targeted remain standing while ordinary citizens suffer. Poverty is on the rise and so are the cries of anguish. Drawing from what Caritas International had to comment on the matter, the sanctions must stop and foreign nations must rethink their strategies when tackling the ME.
1. The socio-economic situation
Egypt
Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:
-200,739 corona confirmed cases
-153,630 recovered
-11,914 deaths
Egypt’s Ministry of International Cooperation, Rania Al-Mashat, photo credit: Egypt Today.
Once again, Egypt’s future looks promising, as the country’s successes are backed up by yet another positive rating. During this month, Fitch Ratings gave Egypt the B+ IDR rating with a Stable Outlook. It comes to no surprise Egypt is really doing well at the economic front since it had implemented fiscal and economic reforms which authorities are evolving. Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, during an announcement of a partnership between International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Egyptian Fintech Association, claimed that her Ministry’s portfolio in innovation, digitalization and entrepreneurship stands at $1 billion, through 34 projects. As such, Egypt was able to demonstrate to foreign investors of a healthy economic environment and that it can be used as a central hub for companies that wish to expand in the ME.
Egypt’s plans to develop the economy do not stop here; it plans to increase its exports to $100 billion per year. According to Egypt’s Minister of Trade and Industry Neveen Gamea, Cairo will soon implement a new program aimed at boosting national industries, developing the exports of small enterprises and supporting land, sea and air freight for exports. By benefiting from free-trade agreements signed between Egypt and other countries, as well as regional and global economic blocs, the country can maximize exports and profits.
Jordan
Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:
-597,256 corona confirmed cases
-494,417 recovered
-6,651 deaths
Jordan’s ailing economy is still in the grip of COVID-19. Photo credit: Middle East Eye.
Despite Jordan’s move to reshuffle the government to usher change and economic reform for the country, COVID-19 still plagues the country. So far, Jordan has received 144,000 doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccines, yet this is not sufficient to deal with the rapidly spreading UK variant of the virus. According to WHO and government records, the daily number of new infections recorded in the country exceed 8000 new infections per day; a high amount considering only 10.1 million people living in the country. On top that, the presence of 1,000,000 Syrian refugees makes it difficult to achieve economic advances.
On the other hand, the Jordanian government did make some progress via its relationship with neighboring country Egypt. Taking advantage of Egypt’s readiness to expand its economy, Jordan signed seven new MOUs and agreements with Egypt, aiming to enhance the electrical interconnection capabilities between Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy and Jordan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
Iraq
Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:
-838,265 corona confirmed cases
-750,435 recovered
-14,249 deaths
Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani speaks during a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Mohamed Alhahkim in Baghdad, Iraq, March. 24, 2021. Photo credit: AP.
Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani visited Iraq only to attend a conference with his Iraqi counterpart Mohamed Alhahkim. To say the least, the visit was not deemed ordinary as it mark’s Qatar’s initiative to improve diplomatic and economic relations with the country. Deemed as a prime strategic intersection between regional interests, Qatar seeks to compete with other players over Iraq. However, unlike Turkey, Iran, Russia, US and other countries, the nation is better received by the local population due to its moderate stance towards Iraq. It is not clear what projects Qatar will be starting in Iraq as nothing has been inked on paper so far, yet the two sides plan to reactivate the joint committee for economic cooperation between Qatar and Iraq. Hopefully this will lead to a push in investments especially when Saudi Arabia is planning to do the same to compete with Qatar.
Lebanon
Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:
-462,339 corona confirmed cases
-366,639 recovered
-6,136 deaths
A demonstrator shouts slogans in front of burning garbage containers used to block a main road. Photo credit: Al Jazeera.
With the shutdown of online plaforms that post currency rates in the black market, Lebanon paused the havoc sweeping the country; the US dollar rose to 15,000 LBP then mysteriously dropped to approximately 10,000 in one week after the platforms were shut down, prompting demonstrations to take the streets. Yet, rates between 10,000 and 14,000 which took over this month, are still high and are cotinuing to increase inflation.
Also, talks of fuel shortage, electricity blackouts, and the dissapearance still haunt the news. Moreover, the corona problem still ravages the country as the general mobillization has been extended for 6 months and the Easter Holidays was placed under lockdown. Meanwhile, there is still no government in place despite optimistic forecasts that one will be formed soon. Political paralysis and bickering is still halting any advancements in that domain, while poverty is continously on the rise.
Palestine
Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:
-238,248 corona confirmed cases
-211,521 recovered
-2,599 deaths
With the arrival of Pfizer, Palestine’s healthcare workers can better serve citizens. Photo credit: UNICEF.
On 17th of March, the Ministry of Health’s ultra-cold chain and vaccine storage facilities in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, received the first shipment of 37,440 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and 24,000 doses of the Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine from COVAX facility. This news came as a relief for the small economically, politically, and militarily besieged country. Further batches of COVAX vaccine doses are planned for the State of Palestine to cover 20 per cent of the population – approximately 1 million people. Of course, they are to be distributed first to health care workers and other front liners to achieve a remarkable improvement in combating the virus.
Now that Palestine’s economy is slowly untangling, companies started to consider investment options. For instance, the Palestinian Investment Fund is streamlining plans for its first cement factory, through an agreement with a group of local and international companies. Such a move will allow Palestine to enhance infrastructure while moving towards better level of self-sufficiency when the Israeli state is still gripping its economy.
Syria
Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:
-18,638 corona confirmed cases
-12,492recovered
-1,247 deaths
Lines of people gather in front of a bakery. Photo credit: Daily Sabah.
With the pound reaching a historic low of SYP 4750 against the dollar on the black market, the government decided to crackdown on foreign exchange dealers. Unfortunately, the government’s actions worked with no or little avail, as the Syrian Pound kept skyrocketing. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics, inflation rose to 180 and 300%. Moreover, the Ministry of Interior Trade and Consumer Protection announced that the price of unsubsidized fuel would go up from 1,300 Syrian pounds per liter to 2,000 pounds; a more than 50% increase. Also, the price of subsidized fuel would increase by nearly 60%, to 750 Syrian pounds per liter and the price of butane gas for cooking went up by 37%. Finally, the price of a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of sugar has gone from 700 Syrian pounds to around 2,400. As a result of all these figures, lines of people that stretch for miles outside gas stations in Syrian cities, with an average wait of five hours to fill up a tank, have been noticed. At bakeries, people push and shove during long, chaotic waits for their turn to collect the quota of two bread packs a day per family.
In an attempt to alleviate the burdens of the economic crisis, the government Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree granting hundreds of thousands of public sector workers and soldiers a one-time financial stimulus, equivalent to an average monthly salary. Being the third stimulus from last October, the package consists of a payment of 50,000 Syrian pounds, which is nearly $11 on the black market. It would go to public sector workers, including those on part-time contracts and conscripts. Also, 40,000 Syrian pounds, which is about $8.80, would be distributed to pensioners.
There is no doubt that Syria will be facing a harsh year and will be needing further international support. Unfortunately, major powers’ policies bolstered with menacing sanctions continue to weigh heavily on Syria’s policy making. The international community should foster a different perspective and approach in dealing with the situation.
Cyprus
Corona cases, deaths and recovered are distributed as follows:
-44,991 corona confirmed cases
-2,057 recovered
-254 deaths
Cyprus proposed that the EU should be ready to impose economic sanctions if Ankara moves against the bloc’s interests.
On the local economic front, Cyprus seems to be revitalizing key components of its industries. Now that the vaccine rollout is underway, life is returning back to normal on the tiny Mediterranean island. However, its relationship with its dwarfing neighbor Turkey has taken another spin this month. Recently, Cyprus has rejected a draft prepared for a summit of EU leaders this week which seeks to deepen trade ties with Turkey, describing it as “totally unacceptable.” This is due to the historic friction which had occurred throughout the years, when Turkey illegally annexed parts of Cyprus’s territory. EU officials attempted to coerce Cyprus into signing the deal as it will lead to great economic benefits. However, Cyprus still considers Turkey as an entity that cannot be trusted and is continuously breaching its sea and air sovereignty.
2- The refugee situation
Egypt
WFP provided food assistance through cash-based transfers to about 117,700 registered refugees (from nine different countries) to help secure their basic food needs.
Jordan
The UNHCR states that there are currently 664,603 registered refugees in Jordan up until the beginning of March.
The proportion of Syrian displaced people registered within the UNHCR for February, are distributed as follows:
-195,626 in Amman Governorate (29.5 %)
-165,093 in Mafraq Governorate (24.9%)
-136,462 in Irbid Governorate (20.6%)
-97,153 in Zarqa Governorate (14.6%)
-18,284 in Balqa Governorate (2.8%)
-13,087 in Madaba Governorate (2%)
-9,363 in Jarash Governorate (1.4%)
-8,523 in Karak Governorate (1.3%)
-8,399 in Maan Governorate (1.3%)
-6,513 in Ajlun Governorate (1.0%)
-3,718 in Aqaba Governorate (0.6%)
-1,699 in Tafilah Governorate (0.3%)
Qatar Charity (QC) adopted €32 million support package for Syrian refugees and local communities in Jordan.[1]
The World Food Program (WFP) warned that half a million Syrian refugees in Jordan may lose the aid provided to them by the program.[2]
Iraq
The UNHCR states that there are currently 243,890 registered Syrian refugees in Iraq.
The proportion of displaced Syrian people registered within the UNHCR up until the beginning of March, are distributed as follows:
-124,126 in Erbil (50.9%)
-84,045 in Dahuk (34.5%)
-31,931 in Sulaymaniyah (13.1%)
-1,269 in Anbar (0.5%)
-2,519 in other areas (1.0%)[3]
ILO and the Cash Consortium for Iraq (CCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as part of the agencies’ strategic partnership to strengthen collaboration in advancing economic growth and self-reliance for vulnerable populations in Iraq.[4]
During March, Iraqi Red Crescent began rehabilitating 60 houses in Siniyah district of Baiji township. Moreover, the IRCS installed water desalination and purification unit in cooperation with the Swedish Red Cross with a capacity of 2000 cubic meters per hour for the displaced families in Dujail district.[5]
Lebanon
[Note: The number of registered refugees has not been updated by UNHCR Lebanon.]
Since the beginning of the year, the number of registered refugees in Lebanon is 865,531.
Refugees in Lebanon are distributed as follows:
-336,266 in Bekaa (38.9%)
-233,042 in North Lebanon (26.9%)
-202,025 in Beirut (23.3%)
-94,198 in South Lebanon (10.9%)[6]
Amnesty International released a report regarding documented alleged torture committed by mostly Lebanese military intelligence personnel against Syrian detainees.[7]
Norway announced that it will be sending NOK 125 million to UNRWA to provide essential support to individuals and families. [8]
Qatar Charity (QC) adopted €98 million support package for Syrian refugees and local communities in Lebanon.[9]
Syria
Intensive care units in public hospitals in the Syrian capital Damascus have reached full capacity due to a sharp rise of coronavirus infections, leading doctors to transfer patients to hospitals in other provinces, the health ministry said late Thursday 18 March.[10]
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Sunday 28 Feb, urged all countries to repatriate and safely reintegrate their young nationals being held at Syria’s largest camp for refugees and internally-displaced, following a deadly weekend fire at Al-Hol camp which saw at least three children die, and another 15 injured.[11]
Caritas International during the conference “Church and Caritas: 10 years of humanitarian response in Syria” urged the international community to stop sanctions as Syria is suffering from the ‘bomb’ of poverty.[12]
Several airstrikes in northern Idlib, a few kilometers from the Turkish border, have resulted in a fire breaking out at a CARE-supported warehouse, containing humanitarian supplies, on Sunday evening. The fire destroyed relief items for nearly 25,000 people in dire need of humanitarian assistance in Northwest Syria.[13]
Cyprus
The government of Cyprus launched a project to build a barrier which should prevent refugees from crossing over from the northern, Turkish Cypriot part of the island.[14]
In a letter released on the fifth anniversary of the EU-Turkey deal, the Council of Europe (COE) has expressed concern over the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers in Cyprus.[15]
Communication and Public Relations Department
[1] OCHA, March 5, 2021, https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/eu-adopts-130-million-support-package-syrian-refugees-and-local-communities-jordan
[2] Middle East Monitor, March 22, 2021, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210322-wfp-calls-for-urgent-funds-or-0-5m-syria-refugees-in-jordan-could-lose-aid/
[3] https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria/location/5
[4] OCHA, March 29, 2021, https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/ilo-and-cash-consortium-iraq-sign-mou-advance-humanitarian-development-nexus-and-improve
[5] OCHA, March 24, 2021, https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/iraqi-red-crescent-begins-rehabilitating-60-houses-siniyah-district
[6] https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria/location/71
[7] Al Jazeera, March 23, 2021, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/23/i-wish-i-would-die-syrian-refugees-tortured-in-lebanon
[8] OCHA, March 9, 2021, https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/norway-disburse-nok-125-million-unrwa
[9] OCHA, March 5, 2021, https://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/eu-adopts-130-million-support-package-syrian-refugees-and-local-communities-jordan
[10] AP News, March 19, 2021, https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-damascus-bashar-assad-syria-ac48a00e63e63bbde0c3bd06ee47cde7
[11] UN News, https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/02/1085982
[12] OCHA, March 24, 2021, https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/stop-sanctions-after-10-years-war-syria-now-under-bomb-poverty
[13] OCHA, Mar 23, 2021, https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/vital-aid-supplies-destroyed-airstrikes-care-warehouse-northwest-syria
[14] Info Migrants, March 12, 2021, https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/30838/cyprus-errects-barrier-to-deter-migrants
[15] Info Migrants, March 19, 2021, https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/30980/cyprus-urged-to-improve-its-treatment-of-asylum-seekers