Special Edition: Coronavirus

Humans are social beings – as if we had not known that already, the COVID-19 pandemic serves as a painful reminder. To self-isolate, to socially distance, to refrain from the human touch, to be unable to see people’s faces goes against human nature. It is understandable that “extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.” Yet, they may cost us our mental health.

In wars, times of crises, natural disasters and outbreak of pandemics and germs... the disabled, children, women and the elderly are considered to be at the highest risk of danger, harm, violence, neglect, discrimination and social stigmatization. Responding to this challenge requires effective plans that meet the requirements of all groups in general and the disabled in particular.

In pandemics, as in wars, truth seems to be the first casualty. Although the world has been facing epidemics and pandemics for centuries, it has never had to deal with any of them amid the current tsunami of misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories vis-à-vis COVID-19.

In recent years, the Gulf States have all put forward ambitious reform plans that aim to catapult their economies into the future. Given an almost complete dependence on the revenues of their oil reserves, economic diversification and investment in local talent have been matters of emergency. The coronavirus crisis, which aggravates most of their problems, is an opportunity to take stock of their progress.

The COVID-19 pandemic could be the greatest catastrophe facing the world since World War II. Having dealt a violent blow to the three pillars of sustainability – society, economy, and environment – it will come to be seen as a turning point in the history of the 21st century. What long-term effect will the pandemic have on the global striving for sustainability and will it require a redefinition of the Sustainable Development Goals?

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented situation of lockdown, social isolation, and economic decline in most countries around the world that states and citizens struggle to contend with. In Algeria, many people have lost their employment and can’t make ends meet. Civil society steps up where authorities fail to help.

Under the constraints and policies of the current lockdown imposed by most countries in the world, including Libya of course, due to the Corona pandemic, the problem of domestic or marital violence emerged at a bigger scale than ever before in this country, as many women became susceptible to the danger of violence, beating and punishment. In many cases, this amounted to premeditated murder and slaying.

A few weeks ago, Lebanon confirmed the first case of COVID-19. As the number of cases started increasing, the government recommended to close public places and asked businesses to operate remotely. I began to work from home, my daily routine suddenly changing. Feelings of anxiety and stress snuck up on me. For the sake of my mental and physical wellbeing, I needed to adapt.