Special Edition: Coronavirus

The current corona pandemic has a strong impact on our lives. “Ruya” takes a closer look on how the society in Middle East and North Africa is affected and also gives voice to people who have useful advice and insights for others.

Image of Planet Earth as Coronavirus ©Miroslava Chrienova via Pixabay
Mental Health © Canva

Special Edition: Coronavirus5 min
 COVID-19 and Its Toll on Mental Health

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.
Image of Poster with Arabic writing as well as a wheelchair symbol, braille, and sign language ©Firas Hamiye

Special Edition: Coronavirus4 min
 Coronavirus hinders people with disabilities to access essential spheres of life

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.

Lebanon
Image of a man holding a tablet, which shows an article with the headline "Fake News" ©memyselfaneye via Pixabay

Special Edition: Coronavirus4 min
 For Bahrainis, Trust Is a Vaccine against Viral Misinformation

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.

Bahrein
Image of the Sagadril-1 Oil rig, Corniche Abu Dhabi ©Guilhem Vellut, CC BY 2.0 via flickr.com

Special Edition: Coronavirus6 min
 The Gulf Post Covid-19: How Can States Step Up Economic Innovation?

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.

Gulf Region
Image of the Logos of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations ©Reedz Malik via flickr.com, CC 2.0

Special Edition: Coronavirus5 min
 The Sustainable Development Goals: Redefinition beyond COVID-19

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?
Image of the Logo of Net3awno (engl. Let us help each other!). It depicts both the Logo and the image of a man reaching out his hands to help another person. ©Net3awno

Special Edition: Coronavirus2 min
 Civil Society Thrives during Pandemic

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.

Algeria
Two images. The photo on the left shows two people with their back to the camera facing an empty desk and chair. The person on the right is wearing a brown robe and is handcuffed. The image on the right depicts a young girl looking at the camera. ©نسويات ليبيا (Twitter)

Special Edition: Coronavirus5 min
 Women in Libya: War, Corona and their Husbands’ Fatal Blow

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.

Libya
Image of colourful game pieces. One is shielded alone under a glass bell. ©tillburmann via Pixabay

Special Edition: Coronavirus3 min
 My Experience with Self-Isolation

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.

Lebanon

“RETHINK: Art in Times of Crisis”

“RETHINK: Art in Times of Crisis” is a video series that portraits personalities from arts and culture of North Africa and the Middle East, who speak about how the pandemic is affecting their work and how they face the crisis.
 
RETHINK: Art in Times of Crisis ©Goethe-Institut/Perspectives; Karam Amin

Editor's recommendation

Failed to retrieve articles. Please try again.

Most Read

Failed to retrieve articles. Please try again.