UK £2 Issue 251, Year 6 April 5, 2020 EU €2.50 www.thearabweekly.com Digital Iraq’s political Sudan’s security transformation woes predicament in the Gulf

Page 10 Page 3 Page 9 Accusations to Tehran in killing of dissident add to Turkey-Iran tensions Iran and Turkey are both pursuing aggressive policies aimed at expanding their influence in North Africa and the Middle East, whether through direct military involvement or through regional proxies.

Thomas Seibert in Syria and Turkey buys natural gas from Iran, tensions are never far from (Reuters) the surface. Erdogan accused Iran of Istanbul trying to “dominate the region” in the past. Region struggles to cope with the pandemic tatements by Turkish officials The latest spat between the two linking Tehran’s intelligence countries came on February 29, when he Iraqi man pictured above 85,000 cases of the virus and been extended or tightened in most agency to the killing of an Ira- Iran’s Military Advisory Centre (MAC) reflects on the ambivalent 4,000 deaths in the Middle East parts of the Arab world, including S nian dissident in Istanbul form in Syria, a body thought to be linked attitude of many in the as of April 2, including more than Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Besides the latest twist in escalating tensions to the Quds Force of the Islamic T Arab world towards the 3,400 deaths in Iran. Public health preparing for the health situation between Turkey and Iran over the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), COVID-19 pandemic. While he sits experts fear a massive spread of to worsen, governments are taking conflict in Syria. accused Turkish troops in the Syr- in downtown Baghdad amid a cur- the pandemic in refugee camps measures to shield their economies Masoud Molavi Vardanjani was ian province of Idlib of targeting pro- few imposed by the authorities, he and war-stricken countries such as and provide assistance to vulner- shot dead on an Istanbul street on Iranian fighters there. News reports uses gloves and a protective mask. Syria and Yemen. able segments of society. November 14, 2019. Citing Turkish quoted the MAC statement as warn- According to news agency As casualties mount, curfews and officials, Reuters last week reported ing that Turkish soldiers were “in the counts, there have been about other confinement measures have Extensive coverage pages 2-12 that two intelligence officers in Iran’s range” of Iranian weapons and that consulate in Istanbul had instigated “we could have easily taken revenge his killing. on them for the bombardment of our Ali Fathollah-Nejad, a visiting fel- Turkish firms on drone projects. They incident. The United States on April 1 ac- bases.” low at the Brookings Doha Centre, claimed he had approached the Unit- A week after the killing, US Secre- cused Iran’s Ministry of Intelli- The Turkish news agency Anadolu said the fact the accusations against ed States and European countries to tary of State Mike Pompeo had de- gence and Security (MOIS) of being reported that Turkish military ac- Iran in the Vardanjani case were work for them. scribed it as “another tragic example directly involved in the killing of tion in Idlib had killed “31 Shia mili- made public by Turkish authorities One Iranian source said Vardanjani in a long string of suspected Iran- Vardanjani. tias, including one Iranian national, pointed to political background. published documents online that he backed assassination attempts” of “Given Iran’s history of targeted 9 Hezbollah militias and 21 from “The timing of this revelation by had either hacked or obtained from Iranian dissidents. assassinations of Iranian dissidents the Fatemiyoun and Zainabiyoun senior Turkish officials might signal contacts in Iran and ignored requests Pompeo said in a tweet that he and the methods used in Turkey, the brigades.” Ankara’s willingness to put public/ to contact the Iranian Embassy in found disturbing the reports that Ira- United States government believes Experts said Turkey was particu- international pressure on Tehran at Ankara, instead meeting Americans. nian diplomats were involved in the that Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence larly frustrated by the role of pro-Iran a time when both sides have been The source gave no details on the killing of the dissident but that they and Security (MOIS) was directly militias in support of Russia-backed clashing over Syria,” Fathollah-Nejad documents or meetings. were “fully consistent” with their as- involved in Vardanjani’s killing,” a Syrian government troops fighting wrote on Twitter. The second Iranian source said Var- signments. senior administration official told jihadist rebels backed by Turkey in Turkish government officials did danjani had been warned about his “Iran’s ‘diplomats’ are agents of Reuters. Idlib. not respond to a request for a com- contacts with foreign diplomats. terror and have conducted multiple Turkey is a sponsor of loyal militias Iran and Turkey are both pursuing ment on the Vardanjani case. The US statement about the Var- assassinations and bomb plots in Eu- and Sunni militants fighting against aggressive policies aimed at expand- Talking to Reuters, two Iranian danjani murder gave an additional rope over the past decade,” Pompeo Syria’s government while Iran pro- ing their influence in North Africa and security sources implicitly con- boost to Turkey’s accusations. said. vides Shia fighters supporting the the Middle East, whether through di- firmed Tehran’s involvement say- The United States had not previ- government. Even though Ankara rect military involvement or through ing Vardanjani had defied a warning ously disclosed its assessment on Thomas Seibert is a correspondent and Tehran cooperate with Russia regional proxies. from the IRGC not to cooperate with who might have been behind the for The Arab Weekly in Istanbul. Radio Karantina brings solace to listeners on days of lockdown

Samar Kadi tina may perhaps be a space where words from Marguerite Duras and brought together musicians, artists tos: “Stay safe and play sounds” and a harmonious voyage outside the Delphine Seyrig and other sound and individuals who are currently at “Stay safe and stay tuned.” confines of our walls can happen,” sources such as Lebanese jingles. home in self-isolation. “It is a beautiful link that is being Beirut he said. “I went online on the first day of “It (Radio Karantina) has created created among people. Some have Radio Karantina first began trans- total lockdown in Lebanon. Since a virtual community where people been sending videos of themselves rom the confinement of his mission on March 15, mixing music I am a DJ, I thought why not share are happy to listen to music. I have dancing on the balcony with their room in Beirut, Lebanese with film excerpts, video clips and some of my music with relatives so many requests on the Instagram neighbours across the street doing DJ Nasri Sayegh is shar- and friends whom I am not able to page from people in Yemen who the same or working at home. F ing his special music mixes welcome at home. It was like open- want to hear old vintage sounds “Music has always been an in- through online Radio Karantina, ing a window to spread music to the from Yemen. I also have requests tegral part of society, whether which he set up to bring some joy to people I love,” Sayegh said. from Tehran, Istanbul, Palestine et through ritualistic communal prac- the millions of people on lockdown The enthusiastic engagement cetera… It is just great.” tices, times of joy and sorrow or as a across the globe and encourage with Radio Karantina rapidly grew. However, Radio Karantina is not means of expression,” Sayegh said. them to stay at home and stay safe. “It was a hit,” Sayegh said. “First meant for mere entertainment, Listeners can tune in daily on the “From Beirut to the world and I thought I would share daily mixes Sayegh explained. Radio Karantina Soundcloud page, vice-versa Radio Karantina is a pro- from myself, but the day after I was “It is rather aimed to encour- as well as via Facebook and Insta- ject that conjures together music, happily hijacked by friends and age people to continue to create gram under the same handle. stories and images from quaran- people who wanted to share their while sitting at home, to think and Find Radio Karantina on: tine during the exceptional times own music, intimate playlists and meditate because what’s happening Soundcloud: https://soundcloud. the world is currently witnessing,” podcasts from wherever they are in today is terrible, and it is an oppor- com/radiokarantina Sayegh said. the world.” tunity to slow down and to rethink Instagram: https://www.insta- “It is something to listen and The material uploaded on Insta- our whole humanity, post isolation, gram.com/radiokarantina/ dance to in the comfort of our gram, Facebook and Sound Cloud and I hope we don’t simply go back Facebook: https://www.facebook. homes. The practice of self-isolating is being curated by Sayegh as well to our old ‘normal’ lives.” com/radiokarantina is a test of our times, when walls, as music lovers confined in Bei- The radio’s main purpose is to streets and towns await life anew. Radio Karantina logo. rut, Berlin, Baltimore and Mon- invite people to stay home, for the Samar Kadi is The Arab Weekly In this waiting room, Radio Karan- (Nasri Sayegh) treal, among others. The radio also good of all, and it has two main mot- Travel and Society section editor. 2 April 5, 2020 Top news

Egypt steps up battle UN urges ceasefire in to prevent spread Yemen over looming of COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 threat

The Arab Weekly staff Ahmed Megahid health authorities. Nonetheless, the April 2 infec- tions set off the alarm over a possible London Cairo growth in the number of cases in the coming period. ith military engage- gypt is still struggling to pre- Prime Minister Moustafa Madb- ments still ongoing, the vent the spread of COVID-19 ouli appealed to citizens to abide by United Nations through among its citizens as more restrictions on movement imposed W its special envoy is E people tested positive for the by his government and by the night- working to broker a ceasefire deal virus. Despite a night-time nation- time curfew. between warring factions in Yemen wide curfew imposed since March So far, the number of infections is to help address the looming threat 25, the populous Arab country re- still within controllable limits, the tied to the coronavirus pandemic. ported, on April 2, 86 new infections, Egyptian premier said at a press brief- The UN wants to reach agreements the highest in seven weeks. ing via videoconference on April 2. addressing a nationwide ceasefire, as The new cases brought the overall However, Madbouli said his gov- well as humanitarian and economic number of cases in the country up ernment fears that the number of measures in order to “alleviate the 865. infections would be in the hundreds suffering of the Yemeni people.” Egypt also reported six new coro- or in the thousands. He expected the “This process further aims to fos- navirus deaths on the same day, number of cases to rise in the coming ter joint efforts to counter the threat which brought the total number of period. of COVID-19,” the statement said. fatalities to 58. This report came as So far, there are seven infections Looming crisis. Workers are seen in a factory that produces “The Special Envoy, Martin Grif- health authorities took additional among every 1 million Egyptians. sterilised surgical equipment and medical clothings in Sadat, fiths, is conducting daily bilateral measures to limit coronavirus in- This is remarkably low, compared Egypt, March 15. (Reuters) consultations with the aim of con- fections, amid national fears of an with the rate in other regional states vening virtually the parties together outbreak. where there are between 17 and 500 soonest possible,” it added. infections among every 1 million started increasing this capacity in “The current night-time cur- At the end of March, following people, according to the Egyptian preparation for worst-case scenarios, few has succeeded in trimming the UN Secretary-General Antonio Gu- The number of hospitals Ministry of Health and Population. specifically of the spread of conta- movement of the public,” Saad said. terres’s call for a global truce in order receiving coronavirus Egypt’s fatality rate is 0.4 per every gion among more people. “Nevertheless, the whole thing will to fight the coronavirus pandemic, patients has already 1 million people, which is much low- The number of hospitals receiving depend on the number of infections Yemen’s warring factions, composed increased to 30 from 26. er than the regional virus fatality rate coronavirus patients has already in- we will confirm in the coming days.” of the internationally recognised which averages between one and 37 creased to 30 from 26. Health specialists warn, however, government, Houthi rebels and This is especially true after Egyp- per every 1 million people, the min- The Ministry of Health will also that the fact that some ordinary peo- southern separatists all welcomed tian authorities had to impose a total istry said. send 1,000 mobile clinics to the vi- ple take the disease lightly can open the call. lockdown on a number of villages, Health authorities moved ahead cinity of major development projects the door for catastrophes in the com- However, after fragments of a bal- including in the Nile Delta provinces with the disinfection of hundreds of and industrial zones to offer health ing days. listic missile intercepted over the of Gharbia and Menoufia, after doz- buildings, streets and facilities across services to workers in these areas. “The failure of some people to take Saudi capital Riyadh resulted in in- ens of villagers tested positive for the the country. Nevertheless, there are calls for the disease more seriously can lead juries, the coalition began targeting virus. So far, more than 7,500 buildings, imposing a nationwide lockdown, to an increase in infections,” said “legitimate Houthi targets,” mainly The authorities also imposed a including government administra- against the background of fears that Magdy Morshid, a member of the in the capital Sana’a and on Yemen’s lockdown on a number of residential tive buildings and tourist facilities, the lack of abidance on the part of Committee on Health in the Egyptian Red Sea coast in response to the mis- buildings in the Suez Canal city of were decontaminated by differ- members of the public in some cities parliament. “Abidance by the public sile threat. Port Said after some of its residents ent state agencies, including by the can contribute to exacerbating the by social distancing calls will decide “This escalation by the Houthi tested positive for coronavirus. Chemical Warfare Division of the situation. whether we will reach a safe shore or militia does not reflect its announce- Over the past six weeks, Egypt Egyptian Army. Cabinet spokesman Nader Saad enter the danger zone.” ment of accepting a ceasefire and de- reported an average of 35 new in- Although the national hospital said the government did not need escalation or any seriousness about fections every day, which was capacity has coped with the current to impose a full lockdown on the Ahmed Megahid is an Egyptian engaging in trust-building meas- viewed as an acceptable rate by number of infections, Egypt has country. reporter based in Cairo. ures with the Yemeni government to reach a comprehensive political solution to end the coup,” Turki al- Malki, official spokesman of the coa- Gulf nations tighten measures as infection numbers rise lition said. According to al-Malki, “the tar- Mohammed Alkhereiji from the two cities, as of today until In the United Arab Emirates, where ity (CAA) has returned 2,713 citizens gets that were destroyed include further notice,” an official source at the total number of cases stood at stranded in the US, Germany, the UK, advanced capabilities of the terrorist the Ministry of Interior said. 1,264, authorities have been work- Italy, Spain, France, Iran, the United militia, storage, assembly and instal- London Authorities have also extended ing on repatriating Emirati citizens Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and lation sites of ballistic missiles and the curfews in the city of Dam- stranded abroad, after international Lebanon,” state-owned news agency UAVs, locations of Islamic Revolu- ulf Arab nations continue mam, Eastern Region, and in the flights were suspended in numerous KUNA reported on March 31. tionary Guard Corps (IRGC) experts to see a rise in the number governorates of Taif and Qatif to countries. KUNA reported that all of those and weapons depots.” of coronavirus infections, 3pm, until further notice based on The Gulf state’s foreign ministry who returned were tested for The attack by the Iran-allied mili- G forcing authorities and the recommendations of the health said that “1,743 Emiratis and those COVID-19 at the airport. tia generated international condem- health officials to extend and inten- authorities. accompanying them have been evac- Meanwhile, the country’s head of nation. sify measures in an effort to flatten And while cases in the kingdom uated,” without naming the coun- state, Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia the COVID-19 curve regionally. continue to increase, the first public tries from which citizens were re- al-Jaber al-Sabah, has ordered the John Abizaid said the US mission In Saudi Arabia, where the num- acknowledgement by a Saudi official patriated, the state-run news agency donation of $16 million to a fund for strongly condemns the attack by the ber of infections has reached 2,039, that the annual Hajj pilgrimage could WAM reported on March 31. COVID-19 efforts. Houthis “against civilian targets in authorities have extended a curfew be cancelled because of the COV- Meanwhile, the UAE’s first full the kingdom,” while France’s For- introduced a week ago, including a ID-19 virus was made on March 31. lockdown came into effect in Dubai’s eign Ministry also condemned the 24-hour lockdown in the holy cities The kingdom’s Minister for Hajj Al Ras district. And while cases in the attack, stressing that “the continu- of Mecca and Medina. and Umrah, Muhammad Saleh bin Dubai enforced the lockdown on a kingdom continue to ation of the hostilities is exacerbat- “The curfew will be effective in all Taher Banten, urged Muslims in- district housing the emirate’s famous increase, the first public ing the human toll of the conflict in parts of the cities of Mecca and Medi- tending on performing this year’s gold and spice markets on Tuesday, acknowledgement by a Yemen, which is entering its sixth na for a period of 24 hours a day, with Hajj to postpone their plans in light to disinfect the normally bustling Saudi official that the year, and diminishing prospects for continuing ban of entry into and exit of the ongoing pandemic. tourist and trade area as part of ef- annual Hajj pilgrimage finding a political solution.” forts to stem the spread of the coro- could be cancelled because The UAE expressed “its full sup- navirus. port with the kingdom in the face The UAE also launched its first of the COVID-19 virus was of these terrorist attacks against drive-through COVID-19 testing fa- made on March 31. civilians,” according to a Foreign Af- cility in Abu Dhabi on March 28, fairs Ministry statement released on which was inaugurated by Abu Dha- Additionally, the country’s central March 29. bi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bank announced a stimulus package Despite the hostilities, Riyadh bin Zayed al-Nahyan. designed to cushion the economy extended an olive branch to to the “We will never hesitate to take from the impact of the COVID-19. Houthis. According to the Wall Street any measures against any potential In Oman, where confirmed cases Journal, Saudi Arabia has invited threat to people’s life. At the same of the coronavirus are at 277, author- representatives of Houthi rebels for time, we won’t let the development ities placed an entire district under peace talks to end the war in Riyadh. grind to a halt,” Sheikh Mohammed lockdown. The district of Muttrah in Besides the invite for peace talks, said, according to local media. the capital Muscat is now under full Riyadh is holding daily discussion Gulf state Qatar, which has 1,075 quarantine in a bid to curb the spread with the militia in Yemen, a senior cases confirmed, also set up a drive- of the virus. Saudi official told the publication. through COVID-19 testing station, The district will be quarantined The kingdom’s ambassador to however, they are intended for in- until further notice and all roads Yemen, Mohammed al-Jaber, said dividuals who have returned to the leading to the district have been that talks to end the five-year war re- country from abroad. closed, Al-Roya online quoted police main on the table despite a spike in In Kuwait, where the total num- as saying on April 1. violence in recent days, adding that ber of coronavirus infections has Police added that the supply of the Houthis have yet to respond to reached 417, authorities have man- foods and basic services will none- the offer. aged to evacuate more than 2,700 theless be facilitated. “We are committed to our de-es- New precautions. A nurse uses a swab to test the passenger of citizens stranded in several coun- calation,” Jaber said. “We are ready a car for COVID-19 at a drive-through verification centre in the tries. Mohammed Alkhereiji is Gulf to have a cease-fire in all Yemeni ter- Emirati capital Abu Dhabi, April 2. (AFP) “Kuwait’s Civil Aviation Author- section editor of The Arab Weekly. ritory if they accept it.” April 5, 2020 3 Top news

Tehran continues brazen interference in Iraq’s politics as prime minister-designate falters

The Arab Weekly staff Patriot deployment. The Patriot missile system is re- garded as a primarily defensive sys- London tem and is the US principal anti-mis- sile missile system. ehran continued its policy of The US deployment of the Patriot brazen interference in Iraqi missile defence system to Iraqi bases affairs at a time when Iraqi comes in response to reported threats T Prime Minister-designate from Iran to target coalition bases in Adnan al-Zurfi is running against the Iraq, something that it did in the past clock to form a new government. in response to the killing of Soleima- Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued ni. a statement on April 1 claiming to “Iran or its proxies are planning a speak on behalf of Baghdad, warning sneak attack on US troops and/or as- against the deployment of two Patriot sets in Iraq,” Trump tweeted on the missile systems in the country. same day. “If this happens, Iran will The statement claimed that the US pay a very heavy price indeed.” deployment runs “counter to the offi- The Pentagon confirmed that cial position of the Iraqi government, ground-based air defences in Iraq parliament and people” and explic- were being set up in order “to protect itly called on the United States to halt Iraqi, coalition and US service mem- “warmongering during the coronavi- bers from a variety of air threats.” rus outbreak.” Speaking at a later White House US forces, the statement added, briefing, Trump confirmed that US should “respect the wishes of the Ira- intelligence had credible information qi people and government and leave about a threat. “We’re just saying, the country.” ‘Don’t do it. Don’t do it.’ It would be Iraq’s parliament did call for the a very bad thing for them if they did,” general withdrawal of all foreign Trump warned. troops from Iraqi soil on January 5, Trump’s comments coincided with in response to the killing of powerful a visit to Baghdad by new head of In the middle. Prime Minister-designate Adnan al-Zurfi (C) meets with the ambassadors of the Iranian Quds Force commander Ma- Iran’s Quds Force, Esmail Ghaani, in P5 countries of the United Nations Security Council in Baghdad, March 25, amid the coronavirus jor-General Qassem Soleimani and what many viewed as a clear indica- pandemic. (AFP) Popular Mobilisation Units (PMU) tion that Tehran aimed to continue commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis the legacy of Soleimani’s interference in early January. However, it was in Iraq’s domestic affairs. Sairoon alliance. Iran. Zurfi, famously, lived in exile military institution.” a non-binding resolution and a US Ghaani was believed to be visiting The Fatah alliance, which is affiliat- in the United States and was directly Zurfi has also said he would pri- withdrawal has not been formally Baghdad to discuss the political situ- ed with the Iran-backed PMU, and the appointed as governor of Najaf by the oritise de-escalating US-Iran tensions requested by Iraqi President Barham ation in Iraq where Prime Minister- State of Law coalition appear most US post-war administration. as “the conflict between the United Salih. designate Adnan al-Zurfi continues against Zurfi’s candidacy, continuing However, he appears to be trying to States and the Islamic Republic of Observers questioned why Iran’s to face challenges to securing the to view it as “unconstitutional” and woo Iraq’s Shia political blocs, all of Iran has negative repercussions on Foreign Ministry was making state- confidence of the country’s powerful demanding its withdrawal. which have ties to neighbouring Iran, the political, economic and security ments on behalf of a foreign and Iran-backed Shia political blocs. Speaking during his visit to Bagh- in the understanding that he cannot situation in Iraq.” nominally independent country. According to local media, Zurfi dad, Ghaani said Iran opposed any form a government without their While many observers have Speaking a few days earlier, Iraqi has met with Iraq’s four main Shia prime ministerial candidate who is backing. praised Zurfi’s intentions, it would be caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul- political leaders: Hadi al-Amiri of critical of Iran, something that many In recent days, he has tweeted extremely challenging to secure both Mahdi had warned against any “of- the Fatah alliance; Ammar al-Hakim viewed as a tacit criticism of Zurfi. calling for an easing of international Washington’s and Tehran’s backing fensive military action without the of the National Wisdom Movement; Iraq’s prime minister-designate is sanctions on Iran during the coro- at the same time and Zurfi’s April approval of the Iraqi government” Nuri al-Maliki of the State of Law viewed by many as being too close navirus pandemic, as well as explic- 17 deadline to form a cabinet is fast but did not specifically mention the coalition; and Muqtada al-Sadr of the to the United States and no friend of itly stating that the PMU is an “Iraqi approaching. Virtual OPEC meeting set after Trump talks Lebanon gets COVID-19 with Saudi crown prince, Russian president assistance from World Bank

Mohammed Alkhereiji Russia, & I expect & hope that they energy cartel. Samar Kadi needy family to be distributed by will be cutting back approximately 10 “The question for the oil market the army. It also called for strict- Million Barrels, and maybe substan- right now is whether we will have 10 er enforcement of the lockdown he kingdom of Saudi Arabia tially more which, if it happens, will million bpd of voluntary production Beirut measures, noting that reports of has called for an emergency be GREAT for the oil & gas industry!” cuts in the second quarter or forced curfew violations coming from virtual meeting of the OPEC+ Trump said on his official Twitter ac- production cuts,” said Bjornar Ton- ebanon is to receive urgent some regions were alarming. T 1 cartel in an effort to discuss count, while later tweeting that pro- haugen, head of oil markets at Rys- World Bank assistance to “Major breaches of the declared ways of how to restore “balance” to duction cuts could go as high as 15 tad Energy, help it fight the COVID-19 general mobilisation measures global energy markets. million barrels. Whether US oil producers can L pandemic, as the govern- have occurred and harsh decisions The announcement by the king- The tweet by the US president was agree to output cuts remains to be ment approved monthly financial might be taken should this negli- dom, which led to a spike in oil pric- a source of confusion in Russia, with seen. However, the current oil price aid to the poorest communities gence continue,” Information Min- es, comes as part of the kingdom’s the Kremlin denying that Putin and war along with the global spread and plans to repatriate Lebanese ister Manal Abdel Samad said. endeavours to support the global Trump have spoken regarding the of the coronavirus has taken a sig- citizens stranded abroad. A repatriation plan of Lebanese economy and “in appreciation of the ongoing oil price war. nificant toll on the US oil industry, The World Bank said it has re- expats, mainly students studying request of the president of the USA,” “No, there was no conversation,” claiming casualties along the way. allocated $40 million, part of a $120 abroad, is to be implemented from the official Saudi Press Agency said. Russian presidential spokesman US shale producer Whiting Petro- million Health Resilience Project, April 5-12. However, repatriations In a tweet on April 2, US President Dmitry Peskov told the Interfax news leum Corporation, considered one to strengthen the Ministry of Public will be halted should there be a Donald Trump said he had spoken agency on April 2, while also adding of the top shale oil producers, filed Health’s capacity to respond to the high number of coronavirus infec- with Saudi Crown Prince Moham- that there were currently no plans for for bankruptcy. In a statement on crisis by equipping governmental tions among the returnees. med bin Salman bin Abdulaziz after such a discussion. April 1, the company blamed “the se- hospitals and increasing their abil- “The first batch of returnees will having previously spoken with Rus- The Kremlin is yet to confirm that vere downturn in oil and gas prices” ity to test and treat suspected coro- be more of a test. The plan will con- sian President Vladimir Putin about it will be attending the OPEC + 1 vir- on the uncertainty around the dura- navirus cases. tinue should the virus cases rate re- stabilising the international energy tual meeting, which is scheduled for tion of the Saudi-Russia oil price war The assistance will be used to main limited to 1-2%,” Prime Minis- market. Monday, March 6. and the COVID-19 pandemic. procure Personal Protective Equip- ter Hassan Diab said. “Just spoke to my friend MBS Beyond that, there is major spec- The success of the virtual OPEC ment (PPE) for medical profession- Repatriation priority will be giv- (Crown Prince) of Saudi Arabia, ulation among energy analysts on summit will also be predicated on als, five PCR machines with testing en to citizens who have chronic ill- who spoke with President Putin of whether a deal can be reached by the Trump’s meeting with US oil pro- kits covering six months’ supply nesses, the elderly and families and ducers and whether he can convince needs of public hospitals, 50 ven- those who left Lebanon on short- them to also scale back production, tilators and 12 Electrocardiogram term visas. likely through incentives such as machines, among other items to The returnees will be tested at imposing import tariffs on foreign be delivered consecutively and in Beirut’s airport and only allowed crude oil. batches over a period of six weeks; to go home if results are negative. The current state of affairs resulted 70 additional ventilators are also Also, they will have to sign pledges after the collapse of the OPEC + Rus- being procured by the Ministry of that they will isolate themselves sia alliance on March 6, following a Public Health from private firms at homes or at quarantine cen- meeting in Vienna, which was meant following a competitive bidding tres (hotels, complexes and other to address production cuts related to process. places) under the supervision of the impact of the coronavirus pan- The nationwide lockdown en- the ministries of health, interior demic on the global energy market. forced since March 15 has deprived and defence and under penalty of From there, Riyadh ordered Saudi daily workers of their only source criminal prosecution. Aramco to ramp up production by of income, triggering calls of as- An estimated 10,000 people are 13 million barrels per day and that sistance and protests in poor re- expected to return in the first stage was followed by a gesture of solidar- gions in the north and east of the of repatriation. A second phase is ity from the United Arab Emirates, country. planned from April 27 to May 4. Balancing the market. OPEC sign outside the headquarters of which announced that it would be The government decided on Lebanon has so far confirmed the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), joining the kingdom in increasing March 31 to grant financial aid 520 coronavirus cases, among Austria. (Reuters) production. worth LBP 400,000 ($260) to each them 17 deaths. 4 April 5, 2020 Top news

In Libya, more concern about pandemic than over ongoing war

Michel Cousins Sarraj’s deputy, who has faced ac- cusations of corruption. This re- sulted in the minister offering his Tunis resignation on March 31. In the east, where there are no lthough North Africa has confirmed cases of coronavirus, reported 43% of all con- there is growing disquiet at the ap- firmed cases of COVID-19 pointment of the Libyan National A on the African continent, Army (LNA) Chief of Staff Major- as well as the highest number of General Abdul-Razzaq al-Nazhuri deaths, Libya has not been affect- as head of the committee dealing ed much by the pandemic. with the pandemic. “It should be Until March 24, Libya had no run by an expert not an army offic- confirmed cases and, by April 3, er,” said one otherwise loyal LNA it had registered just 11 cases and supporter. 1 death, miniscule numbers com- China has reportedly expressed pared with those of neighbouring willingness to help. According to Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and Mo- the GNA’s foreign ministry, Chi- rocco. nese President Xi Jinping has writ- Ironically, Libya’s political crisis ten to Sarraj offering equipment as Social fallout. Needy Tunisian citizens gather with their identification cards in Mnihla district seems to have isolated it to a large well as distance training for med- outside of Tunis on March 30, clamouring for financial aid promised by the government. (AFP) extent from the global outbreak. ics. However, this has raised ques- Over the past six years, Libya tions about what help China will has had only limited outside air offer to the east. links and almost none to Europe. While the virus starts to spread, Tunisia extends nationwide Internally, too, Libyans have been Libya’s military conflict continues moving a lot less because of politi- to escalate, despite the two sides’ cal divisions and safety concerns. claims to support a pause in order But despite the relatively low to address the pandemic. There lockdown against coronavirus level of infections, Libyans appear are now three distinct fronts: in more worried about the virus than Tripoli, where the LNA offen- in neighbouring countries. The sive has entered its second year, concerns about clashes and mis- in the far west near the Tunisian outbreak, faces social tensions sile strikes in Tripoli almost pale border and in the area near Abu in comparison to the perceived Grein, halfway between Misrata threat of COVID-19. and Sirte, which switched sides Lamine Ghanmi virus pandemic is laying bare including the poor and the needy,” Fully aware of the country’s dire and joined with Haftar in Janu- structural deficiencies in the he added. lack of facilities to combat a se- ary. Fighting in that area, triggered Tunisian health system and social Saied also lashed out at the coun- vere health crisis, people feel par- last month when Misratan forces Tunis programmes. try’s business and political elite, ticularly vulnerable. Testing has launched a failed offensive to Health experts say a lacklustre saying they would more quickly been abysmally low because of the smash LNA forces there, has been unisian President Kais medical system and a shortage of invest money if there were an elec- lack of equipment, while ventila- bloodier than almost any battle in Saied said the country will funding frustrated early efforts to toral campaign going on. tors, too, are in short supply. The Libya over the past year. extend its nationwide lock- curb the disease, especially as lim- Saied specifically singled out health ministry in Tripoli said late down measures to combat ited testing kits prevented the coun- speculators whom he accused of last month that it had ordered 150 T Libyans worry about a lack the coronavirus outbreak until try from carrying out aggressive hoarding essential goods to make ventilators, but this is likely to be a April 20 as the number of infections testing measures early on. an extra profit from rising prices, drop in the ocean compared with of preparedness to cope continues to increase. The deepening economic, social calling them “war criminals” who what would be needed if the pan- with COVID-19. Tunisians have been under lock- and health problems are putting should be prosecuted. demic spreads. down for more than two weeks, significant pressure on newly ap- “Some warehouses are full with People have generally respected In Tripoli, the LNA went on the with most businesses, government pointed Prime Minister Elyes Fakh- semolina while there is shortage curfew measures, although the attack, hoping to take the key sub- offices, shops, cafes and restaurants fakh and his government. On top of in the commodity. There are some timing depends on where they urb of Abu Sleem. But intense GNA closed and people forbidden from organising a strategy to combat the people who are hiding behind their are in the country. Despite fears, artillery bombardment forced the leaving their homes for all but es- virus, the government must stop political and social status to escape people have also been doing what LNA to pull back. sential needs. the country from erupting into riots punishment,” Saied said. they can to help. In the deep The main action may now move Confirmed cases rose to 495 and as more than 1 million day labourers Local media and corruption southern Obari area, women have towards the Tunisian border. Fol- the death toll was at 18 as of April find themselves out of work. watchdogs said they had received started making face masks for lo- lowing a failed GNA attack on 3, according to data from the Health tips from whistle-blowers naming cal healthcare workers. In Sebha, Watiya air base, the LNA was able Ministry. parliament members and local offi- young volunteers have helped dis- to consolidate its control of five The daily increase in the number The government is cials as having benefited from the infect the streets. towns in the area. of infections in recent days prompt- concerned about the manufactured shortage of the food However, in a country that im- There are growing expectations ed health officials to warn that economic fallout and the staple semolina. ports almost everything, there that the LNA will now launch an Tunisia was in a critical stage. urgent need to provide Some analysts argued that the are growing concerns about food attack to take the largest town Heath Minister Abdellatif Mekki, a resources for those who coronavirus crisis highlighted supplies. Government food stocks in the district, Zuwara, and the physician by training, said March 30 lose jobs and income contradictions in Saied’s election in the west are reported to have nearby border crossing of Ras that Tunisia has had “70-80% suc- during the crisis. platform, whose central plank was run out, while imports from Tu- Jedir. cess” in keeping the disease under building up local democratic insti- nisia have stopped with the clo- If it does, it could risk plunging control and preventing it from over- Fakhfakh urged government min- tutions that would reshape the bal- sure of the border. Private im- Libya into an ethnic civil war be- whelming the health-care system. isters and the administration to ance of power. ports are still arriving, mainly at tween the Amazigh (Berber) mi- Mekki, citing models that the speed up the disbursement of more Now, Saied has utilised central- Misrata port, but there are grow- nority and the Arab majority. In government’s policy decisions had than 300 million dinars ($104.8 ised power to address the crisis and ing reports of panic shopping in Zuwara, the main Amazigh town relied on, said: “If we keep up the million) of funds to vulnerable seg- stop leading Islamist party Ennahda the capital Tripoli as shelves in in Libya, several thousand well same momentum and the same ments of the population. from shoring up its own strength in stores start to empty and prices armed fighters could now get in- theme, we can realise a big achieve- The government had come un- local municipalities. rise. The price of beef has gone up volved in the fighting. ment and breakthrough in the fight der fire from Saied for failing to Saied was elected president last 50% in the city over the past five Furthermore, a long-standing against the disease.” quickly provide relief to the needy year with the most voter support weeks. In the east, there are no power struggle between Sarraj “But if we were to give up to the or to effectively implement lock- since Tunisia’s 2011 uprising. A re- problems with food. Imports are and governor of Libya’s Central pressures by public opinion, we can down measures. A statement from tired law lecturer, he built a dispa- still coming in across the Egyptian Bank (CBL) Saddek Elkaber has lose everything we’ve achieved so the president’s office said Saied rate coalition based on his respect border. again taken centre stage. Sarraj far,” he warned. had urged the government to speed for law and order and declared com- In both east and west, though, has called for a meeting of the All civic organisations, includ- up the implementation of meas- mitment to the country’s democrat- there is growing public anger at CBL’s board of directors in order to ing the country’s main employ- ures “with more accuracy” and to ic aims. the country’s lack of prepared- reunite the bank with the parallel ers’ groups and trade unions, change “working methods to re- However, Saied’s lack of concrete ness and authorities’ prioritisation central bank based in Benghazi. voiced support for the tight re- duce recorded shortcomings.” programmes and a power struggle of the military struggle over the Elkaber has rejected the move, strictions but tensions grew in “The president reassured Tuni- with Ennahda leader and Parlia- health of the Libyan people. claiming that Sarraj has no author- many working-class districts as sians that the state will do the ut- ment Speaker Rached Ghannouchi The UN-recognised Government ity to make the call. poor families were often left with most to satisfy basic demands for a have left Fakhfakh struggling to ef- of National Accord (GNA), led by For ordinary Libyans, the coro- no income and a shortage of basic decent life,” the statement said. fectively navigate the deepening Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, navirus outbreak is now the prime food supplies and access to health “I want to reassure the Tunisians. crisis. has come under considerable criti- issue and they want unity among care. We are with them and we will deploy Experts said Tunisia’s extended cism for its handling of the crisis, their leaders to defeat it. Anger Tunisia’s main health concern is all our efforts to meet their expecta- lockdown will likely end a few days in particular its perceived attempt at the country’s lack of prepared- the expected rise in critical cases tions, namely the poor. They are before the holy month of Ramadan, to shift responsibility for dealing ness, as well as the two leader- that require hospitalisation in inten- people who are the most affected by which is expected to begin around with the pandemic onto local mu- ships’ handling of the crisis and sive care units, which are in low sup- the impact of the crisis,” said Saied. April 23, when social distancing will nicipalities. Sarraj’s deputy health determination to continue fighting ply, as well as a potential outbreak “There are people who are not in- be more difficult to observe and minister, Mohamed Haitham Issa, could have serious consequences of the coronavirus among health cluded in the government counts enforce. who has taken the lead in deal- once the crisis is over. professionals. and statistics. They lost their They said Tunisia’s success in ing with the coronavirus crisis, is The pandemic could eventu- The government is also concerned sources of earning a living. They must containing coronavirus will also be reportedly planning to transfer ally alter the nature and balance of about the economic fallout and the be included in social programmes. impacted by the work of other near- health-care responsibility to the power in Libya as well as its politi- urgent need to provide resources “More efforts must be deployed by countries, particularly in Europe. municipalities. cal landscape. for those who lose jobs and income to bring food to Tunisians in all The situation in the west is not during the crisis. regions and satisfy the legitimate Lamine Ghanmi is an Arab Weekly helped by growing public hostil- Michel Cousins is a correspondent Like elsewhere, the corona- demands of fragile social classes, correspondent in Tunis. ity to the GNA health minister and for The Arab Weekly in Tunis. April 5, 2020 5 News Top news China, Russia push for lifting of sanctions on Syria over pandemic

Sami Moubayed Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a similar appeal to the inter- national community. Beirut Crippling sanctions ussia and China are leading US and EU sanctions have had a an effort at the United Na- grinding effect on the Syrian medi- tions (UN) to lift sanctions cal sector, where it has become R on Syria, using COVID-19 impossible to import new equip- to justify their efforts. To date, two ment or spare parts, especially if the Syrians have died in the pandemic, end-user is affiliated in any manner raising concern of how the war-torn with the Syrian government. Only country will cope if and when there state-run hospitals are equipped is an outbreak, especially in the Syr- to conduct the COVID-19 tests or ian north. On April 1, Syrian authori- to quarantine patients. According Pandemic amid war. Medical workers oversee the disinfection of streets in order to halt the spread of ties sealed off an entire town in the to a recent study by the London the new coronavirus in Qamishli, Syria. (AP) Damascus countryside, where one School of Economics (LSE), there of the victims died, and a 6pm-to- are 111 public hospitals in Syria, 58 6am curfew is in place throughout of which are fully functional, 27 are medical experts to a handful of na- sent goods and arms to Syria, with in two of Syria’s government-run oil the country, along with a complete partially operational and 26 are fully tions affected by the coronavirus, in- trade standing at $2.2 billion in 2010. companies, with assets estimated at lockdown. destroyed. The report says there are cluding Italy, Philippines and Serbia. In July 2018, Beijing promised $20 21 billion barrels. only 650 ICU hospital beds in both “China is supporting the removal billion in loans and $106 million in Any lifting of sanctions would re- the public and private sectors and of international sanctions against financial aid to countries in the Mid- quire approval of the United States Any lifting of sanctions only 325 of them are equipped with Syria for its long-term geopolitical dle East. It has already received a or at least no objection from the would require approval of ventilators. The lifting or easing of interests,” said Sean Yom, a sen- multitude of Syrian officials, includ- Trump administration should the the United States or at least sanctions, if it happens, will help re- ior fellow at the US-based Foreign ing Foreign Minister Walid al-Moual- Europeans decide to engage with no objection from the vive the medical sector but it needs Policy Research Institute. Speaking lem, who discussed counterterror- the Chinese on Syria. Trump administration. to go hand-in-hand with waivers on to The Arab Weekly, he explained: ism, economics and reconstruction. “The United States is far and away the banking sector as well. These “The justification may be humani- During the course of the war, China the most important player in deter- Addressing the UN Security latter sanctions, imposed by the US tarian, in terms of removing con- has donated public transportation mining whether or not there will Council, China’s UN ambassador, Treasury Department, make it im- strictions due to the global public buses and ambulances and elec- be any relief with the widespread Zhang Jun, said: “We are seriously possible to transfer money out of health crisis, but the goals are very tric generators, helping address the sanctions placed on Syria,” said Da- concerned about the negative im- Syria or to trade in American dollars. much pragmatic.” He sees this as country’s chronic electricity short- vid Lesch, a professor of history at pact of unilateral sanctions on coun- part of the Belt and Road Initiative, age. The estimated cost of Syria’s re- Trinity University in Texas and a bi- tries’ capacity to respond to the A political precedent an ambitious project launched by construction varies anywhere from ographer of President Bashar Assad. pandemic, especially for vulnerable The diplomatic effort sets a prec- the Chinese government in 2013 $200-400 billion. The EU has made “The Trump administration does ones such as Syria.” edent for China in the nine-year Syr- aimed at infrastructure and invest- it clear that it will not pitch in so not seem particularly interested in His call was echoed both by UN ian conflict, where its role in the past ment projects in 70 countries across long as no political process is under lifting sanctions without something Undersecretary for Humanitarian had been restricted to using its veto the world, along with a China-cen- way and so have many Arab states, substantial in return, especially a re- Affairs Mark Lowcock and Special power at the UN to obstruct resolu- tred trading network. “This will not especially after the passing of the duction in the Iranian presence. The Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen. On tions not to its liking or those of its necessarily persuade the West but Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act coronavirus hitting Syria hard could March 27, UN Secretary-General An- Russian ally, President Vladimir Pu- it does mark the latest stage in the by the United States in 2019. One of alter the equation, a bit.” tonio Guterres called for the “waiv- tin. China has already spearheaded normalisation of the Syrian strategy the most important Chinese com- ing of sanctions that can undermine an international assistance pro- and the recognition that the Syrian panies eyeing re-entry into Syria is Sami Moubayed is a Syrian countries’ capacity to respond to gramme in response to COVID-19, regime is not going anywhere.” its National Petroleum Company, a historian and author of “Under the the pandemic,” shortly after the sending testing kits, ventilators and Since the mid-1960s, China has state-owned giant that owns stakes Black Flag” (IB Tauris, 2015). Spectre of coronavirus hovers over Syria

Simon Speakman Cordall tion has been forced to flee their er population are the large numbers tors for patients and equipped am- last year and what I saw was chill- homes, with more than 11 million of unchecked militia fighters and bulances but more is required to ing. Thousands of families fleeing people inside Syria requiring hu- civilians entering and leaving the answer COVID-19 needs,” Hakim clashes sleep in fields or under trees Tunis manitarian assistance, including country unmonitored from Iran, Khaldi, MSF’s head of mission for and basic hygiene and distancing nearly 5 million children. Iraq and Lebanon where the virus is Syria said. He added from Beirut: practices are made impossible by he worst fears of aid agen- Within the country’s north, known to be prevalent. “However, basic materials such as the lack of running water or soap as cies and international or- the IDP (internally displaced per- Aid agencies are doing what they soap are difficult to get. We are cur- well as cramped living spaces,” she ganisations appear to be sons) camps are overflowing, with can. Organisations such as Mé- rently having to buy it in areas such added. T coming true, with the first some families resorting to having decins Sans Frontières (MSF) have as Afrin (around 40 miles away) and Matters are only marginally bet- cases of coronavirus being reported to sleep outdoors with only mats been working on the ground in ship it in.” ter in north-east Syria, currently in Syria. and the shelter of trees to protect northern Syria for some time. On Other basic materials have also the disputed terrain of Turkish, Confirmed deaths from the novel them from this year’s freezing April 2, while acknowledging the become scarce. “We used to get Kurdish and international forces. “I coronavirus remain relatively low. winter. grim circumstances being played medical supplies and disinfectants was told that the entire north-east According to the government in Da- Social distancing of the kind out in north-western, MSF commit- through the border from Turkey,” has less than 30 ventilators for the mascus, recorded instances of the practised elsewhere as a defence ted to maintaining aid operations Khaldi explained. “However, since over 2 million Syrians living there virus among Syria’s shifting popu- against the virus’s spread remains within the region. MSF has previ- the COVID-19 virus emerged there, and less than a handful of doctors lation remain equally limited. How- a distant possibility for families ously suspended its activities in supplies through the border have are even capable of using them,” ever, with the desperate conditions forced to sleep together in crowded north-eastern Syria due to the ar- been restricted, with medical pro- Khalifa said. that permeate the sprawling camps tents in the camps across Syria’s ea’s instability. visions very difficult to get.” across Syria’s north, the implica- north. “We are used to treating burns The World Health Organisation tions of a large-scale coronavirus Exacerbating the risks to the wid- victims, so we have 2 concentra- (WHO) has assessed the risk to Analysts warn that Syria’s outbreak are staggering. Syria as “very high,” Dareen Khalifa, IDP camps are simply not According to the United Nations, a senior analyst with the Interna- equipped to handle a major the cases recorded so far represent tional Crisis Group, said, “due to the COVID-19 outbreak. just “the tip of the iceberg,” Mark high numbers of vulnerable people, Lowcock, the head the UN Office large-scale population movements, “There is not one equipped ICU for the Coordination of Humanitar- as well as the devastated state of and no testing kits. And in the big- ian Affairs (UNOCHA), told the Se- the Syrian healthcare sector whose gest IDP camp there, al-Hol, 66,000 curity Council on March 30. response preparedness and re- people (mostly children and wom- “All efforts to prevent, detect and sponse capacity are not equipped en) live without clean water, ad- respond to Covid-19 are impeded by for an outbreak.” equate food and reliable medical Syria’s fragile health system,” Low- For the International Crisis services — much less soap or pro- cock told the UN Security Council, Group, parts of north-west Syria, tective gear,” Khalifa said. adding that the country remained particularly around the rebel-held However, the spectre of corona- unprepared for the full impact of region of Idlib, are the most vulner- virus that now looms over Syria has the virus, with only half its health- able. “The Russian onslaught on at least brought some respite. Ac- care systems functional at the end Idlib has systematically targeted cording to the UK-based Syrian Ob- of 2019. hospitals and health facilities in the servatory of Human Rights, March Nine years of civil war have left densely populated province,” Khal- saw the lowest number of civilian Syria especially vulnerable to the ifa explained. “It also led to the dis- casualties within Syria since the spread of the disease. Its pre-war placement of more than 1 million war began. population of 21 million has been New threat. Syrians wearing face masks in front of posters people in the last 6 months alone. decimated by the spread of conflict. informing about the novel coronavirus, in the capital Damascus, “I visited Idlib a couple of times Simon Speakman Cordall is a Currently, around half the popula- April 1. (AFP) since the beginning of the offensive freelance writer. 6 April 5, 2020 Opinion

Editorial Saluting Arab women doctors

n most of the Arab region today, probably more than other parts of the world, women are assuming added responsibility within the family and at the level of society at large. With school closures, women are shoul- dering much of the childcare duties and Imaking sure the family holds together. In the Arab region, where women have traditionally assumed a disproportionate share of family responsibility, this is even more the case. For a category of women, the medical profes- sionals, these duties are combined with a leading role on the coronavirus frontline. The figures of the World Health Organisation show that women make up 35% of the medical doctors and 79% of the nurses in the Eastern Mediterranean region. These percentages are maybe below Europe’s averages but are almost equal to those of South East Asia and not far from those in the Americas. Arab doctors and nurses of both genders are to be applauded for being real-life heroes in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Today more than ever, Arab women health workers deserve to be recognised for their acute sense of dedication, courage and responsibility as medical professionals and as pillars of their families and communities. © Yaser Ahmed for The Arab Weekly Making sure the poor do not go hungry Putting Humpty Dumpty rab governments are scrambling to back together again make sure there is food on the tablwe for the unemployed, the poor and other vulnerable segments of society, which risk being hit hard by the Oussama Romdhani effects of the confinement measures As the world rediscovers itself and its basic realities, requiredA by the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. we stand to rediscover ourselves, too. According to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), a s the coronavi- of the ways of tomorrow. When hardships are barely a reminder. regional organisation that includes 18 Arab governments are given broad countries, the pandemic could push an additional rus pandemic Whenever the pandemic is 8.3 million people below the poverty level. Two continues to chal- mandates, nobody is really say- brought under control, people more million people will suffer from poor lenge the existing ing neo-authoritarian policies will be once again seeking to nourishment. systems, many are here to stay. re-negotiate the social contract There are, based on ESCWA estimates, already wonder how the Emergency powers will be binding them to the state. more than 101 million individuals who can be worldA will or should look like eventually reversed. Govern- There are likely to be even considered poor and 52 million who are under- after the current unprecedent- ments will be at the driver’s more strident calls for a differ- nourished in the Arab world. ed crisis. seat but they are likely to be ent model of society that better They are introducing economic stimulus Putting Humpty Dumpty humbled, fatigued and scarred ensures the wellbeing of all and packages to limit the impact of the global health back together again will not, for life. There is not going to be spares them need and disease. crisis on enterprises and making sure they stay however, be easy or even advis- a licence for bullies and know- The clamouring will unfortu- afloat. able, considering that in the it-all autocrats. nately come at a time of mostly With trade, travel, tourism and other service pre-coronavirus days, Humpty Governments will be ulti- empty coffers and strife-ravaged industries being drastically curtailed, economic Dumpty was not in such a great mately held to account on their systems that are unlikely to be activity is slowing down. shape to start with. ability to manage the crisis and able to deliver. For the region’s Concern is that if companies go under, thou- As evidenced by many of the to keep their citizens alive. It neighbours north of the Medi- sands of employees could join the already bloated shortcomings faced by human- is in fact governments, not the terranean, there is reason to ranks of the jobless in the coming weeks and ity today, the old order’s priori- NGOs, the professionals or the worry that the previous waves months. ties have been often out of sync scientists, which will be sorely of illegal migration and extrem- Special attention will need to be devoted to tested by the crisis. Political people left without an income, especially those with the pressing needs fleshed ist threats could pale compared living off the informal sector. Activities in the out by the current pandemic. leaders everywhere know that. with whatever new mutations so-called parallel market constitute 50% or more A priority reset is probably in In the Arab world, the that the post-coronavirus days of economic activity in North Africa and a few order. pandemic has demonstrated would bring. other parts of the Arab world. While we spend most of our more than ever the need for a In the weeks and months Allocation of special subsidies and free distri- waking hours coping with our self-sustaining effort in scien- ahead, developments will bution of food to needy populations are one helplessness, we realise that tific, technological and medical demonstrate whether human justified option. for all its vaunted progress, development and research. The solidarity can rise above the Safeguarding food reserves against hoarding scientific and technological region has an adequate pool of reflexes of selfishness and and preventing shortages will also be needed to advancement, humanity is still competent men and women to barbarity or if it will turn into a ensure the availability of basic staples and limit lagging behind where it counts do just that, if given enough Mad Max kind of movie. As in speculation. the most. resources and consideration. William Golding’s 1954 novel Many Arab leaders are legitimately trying to For all their nuclear war- Many of its bright young peo- “Lord of the Flies,” even inno- reassure their populations about the availability heads, ballistic missiles, satel- ple, including promising young cent children can fall into a state of food reserves during the month of Ramadan, lites, drones and stealth planes, medical doctors, have chosen of savagery. which starts at the end of April, and beyond. developed nations of the world the path of emigration driven But gestures of mutual help Some, like the United Arab Emirates, have are at a loss trying to find a new more by lack of appreciation across borders and expressions enacted laws to secure food supplies and monitor pharmaceutical molecule that and professional prospects than of empathy within borders are retailers’ stocks. stops an invisible virus in its by material motives. The Arab already showing that the human But this is a global issue and not just a regional tracks. world cannot just continue spirit can rise above its selfish concern. There is wariness about the isolationist reflexes Many today, not just the eco- coat-tailing the breakthroughs instincts even in times of exis- that the fear of shortages even before any real logically inclined, are wonder- of the advanced world, which tential challenges. shortages materialises. ing if we have been prudently will be consumed for a while by Global solidarity will be key “Uncertainty about food availability can spark taking care of our planet and its own concerns and to salvation. But it will have to a wave of export restrictions, creating a shortage its people. Others are question- shortcomings. be true global solidarity, one on the global market,” said the joint text by the ing the whole socioeconomic The need for self-sufficiency that will help the region pull UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), model where healthcare and in food and agriculture also itself out of its current predica- the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the scientific and technological looms large in future priorities ments by its own bootstraps and World Trade Organisation (WTO). research were not as prioritised of the Arab world. So does the not the pious narratives or “We must ensure that our response to COVID-19 as economic profit or military necessity of better inter-Arab the made-for-the UN kind of does not unintentionally create unwarranted superiority. cooperation in times of crises. speeches. shortages of essential items and exacerbate Desperation is leading But the isolationist reactions As the world rediscovers hunger and malnutrition.” governments to explore all betrayed by Europe have shown itself and its basic realities, we Recent manifestations of unrest in such places available options to find a way that the Arab region’s shortcom- stand to rediscover ourselves, as Lebanon and Tunisia show the impact of the out. In doing so, they are mov- ings have not been the worst. too. Social distancing will push confinement measures on poorer sections of ing beyond red lines. When As the poor and the unem- us to further look at ourselves society. enlisting the help of Big Tech ployed have a hard time making and those we love in a different US Secretary General Antonio Guterres has companies to track the move- ends meet, the health crisis is light. warned that the combined effect of the pandemic ment of individuals through If and when we wake up from and economic slowdown could lead to “enhanced likely to provoke more social instability, enhanced unrest and enhanced phone-location data and when turbulence in its wake. Popu- the current nightmare, we could conflict.” armies are called into action in lar uprisings since 2011 have be well inspired to imagine Beyond such risks, helping offset the fallout of a medical emergency, you know already rung the alarm. Re- other ways to live our lives. the pandemic on the poor and vulnerable in the you have entered uncharted gimes may have been toppled, region is a collective responsibility of all Arab waters. new elites empowered but lives Oussama Romdhani is the societies and not just governments. But the emergency roads rarely improved for the com- editor-in-chief of taken so far are not indicative mon man of the street. Current The Arab Weekly. April 5, 2020 7 Opinion

Yemen five years on after Operation Published by Al Arab Determination Storm Publishing House Khairallah Khairallah Publisher It is not enough to secure most of the Yemeni coastline and Group Executive Editor and connect it to a regional security network. Haitham El-Zobaidi, PhD ive years after the an agreement with Iran to operate noeuvre towards Iran. Can they tion Storm, Yemen’s future is launch of Operation a large number of weekly flights be included in a political settle- anybody’s guess. The search for a Editor-in-Chief Determination Storm between Tehran and Sana’a. They ment that leads to the establish- formula that would allow salvag- Oussama Romdhani by a Saudi-led Arab co- also began conducting military ment of a state of their own with ing what can be salvaged is still alition, there are many exercises with live ammunition Sana’a as its capital within the in its infancy. The Houthis had unanswered questions near the Saudi border. framework of a federation? retreated at some point but are Managing Editor Fconcerning Yemen, including Between the fall of 2014 and Is it true that the Houthis do back on the war path. However, Iman Zayat whether there is a future for a the spring of 2015, al-Houthi sent not represent the opinion of most what really hinders any progress unified Yemen or if the country is signals that were bound to raise Zaydi sect followers in Yemen? is the absence of a “legitimate” doomed to remain fragmented. fears in Gulf countries about Unfortunately, the experience power able to provide hope and The country’s strategic impor- Yemen’s transformation into an of the Gaza Strip is not reas- reassurance to the embattled Copy Editors tance, because of its 2,500km Iranian satellite. suring about the future of the Yemenis. Sarah Ferguson Smith of coastline extending from the The Obama administration was Houthi-controlled areas. There In Aden, security conditions Stephen Quillen Arabian Sea to the Red Sea, makes engaged in a rapprochement with is an international, and even are deteriorating daily because finding a solution necessary. Iran, culminating in the Iranian perhaps regional, desire to limit the so-called legitimate govern- It is hard to imagine how nuclear deal in July 2015. Before the Houthi presence to northern ment is unable to achieve a mini- East/West Editor Yemen can remain unified and the agreement, which US Presi- Yemen while keeping the situa- mum level of stability. Therefore, Mahmud El-Shafey it is harder to think of a formula dent Donald Trump later tore tion the same as it is now in Taiz, there cannot be talk about hope that would provide a minimum apart, Washington was willing the capital of the Shafi’i centre, for Yemen, at least in the short level of stability in all Yemeni to overlook everything Iran did and seeking to find a settlement term. Gulf Section Editor regions, allowing for the proper outside its borders. for Hodeidah. Whatever positive results Mohammed Alkhereiji treatment of problems common It is legitimate to describe Hamas has been in control of achieved by Operation Deter- to all Yemenis. At the forefront of Operation Determination Storm the Gaza Strip since mid-2007 and mination Storm at a heavy cost Society and Travel those problems are hunger, pov- as a defensive war initiated by nobody raises questions about of life and limb risk being swept Sections Editor erty, underdevelopment on every the countries of the region and the miserable conditions of the away if no serious attempt is level, epidemics and the absence ignited by Iran through its Houthi 2 million Palestinians crammed made to reshape the “legitimacy Samar Kadi

of education. proxy militias, who were more on that narrow piece of land. So, camp” headed by President Abd Senior Correspondents There are also questions that than willing to assume all tasks who is going to raise questions Rabbo Mansour Hadi. already have answers, including required of them by Tehran. about the Yemenis who are going It is not enough to secure most Lamine Ghanmi (Tunis) whether Operation Determina- Operation Determination Storm to be stuck for a long time in the of the Yemeni coastline and con- Thomas Seibert (Istanbul) tion Storm achieved its goals. has shrunk Iran’s influence in confines of a mini Houthi state nect it to a regional security net- Regardless of everything said Yemen. Iran is no longer in Aden in circumstances that are no less work. Sooner or later, the Yemeni Regular Columnists about the 5-year-old military and Mocha, that is, it is no longer miserable than those in Gaza? question will necessitate a fresh Rashmee Roshan Lall excursion, Operation Determina- able to close off the strategically The important thing, from a approach to a sustainable solu- tion Storm cannot be disassoci- important Bab el Mandeb Strait. strategic point of view, is that the tion that guarantees a minimum Claude Salhani ated from the expansionist rush However, the Houthis have Yemeni coastline is, for the most level of decent living conditions Yavuz Baydar by the Houthis, backed by Iran, not relented, switching to an part, outside Iran’s control and is for all Yemenis. following the fall of Sana’a on offensive stance and intensifying part of an international secu- Does this mean then that we September 21, 2014, to militias led their activities in the Jawf region. rity zone that stretches beyond should wait for the downfall of Correspondents by Abdelmalik al-Houthi. They are deeply entrenched in Yemen to the Horn of Africa, the the Iranian regime and the col- Saad Guerraoui (Casablanca) In the six months between the Sana’a and its surroundings. UN Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden and lapse of its doomed expansionist Dunia El-Zobaidi (London) Houthi takeover of Sana’a and be- Special Envoy Martin Griffiths has the surrounding areas, including project, a project whose feet of ginning of Determination Storm, no desire to make them leave the Socotra. Many other questions clay have been laid bare by US Roua Khlifi (Tunis) the Houthis expanded their he- strategic port of Hodeidah. will arise, including about the sanctions and the coronavirus gemony all the way to Aden and There are other questions to future of Mahrah governorate, pandemic? Chief Designer the strategic port of Mocha. be answered, such as whether it which borders Oman. Marwen el-Hmedi The Houthis, acting as the legit- is possible to bet on the Houthis Five years since the begin- Khairallah Khairallah is a imate Yemeni government, signed possessing some margin of ma- ning of Operation Determina- Lebanese writer. Designers Ibrahim Ben Bechir If China were sued over the pandemic, Hanen Jebali

the US should be over Iraq Contact editor at: Rashmee Roshan Lall [email protected] The pandemic is something that is referred to in law as an act of God. War is an act of man.

ews of a US intel- of bloodshed, chaos and tragedy. administration and members of new importance now that the Al Arab Publishing House ligence report According to a 2019 estimate, his Republican Party continue to US administration seems keen to Quadrant Building alleging Chinese the death toll from 16 years of refer to Covid-19 as the “Chinese blame and shame China for the 177-179 Hammersmith Road fabrications about US military intervention in Iraq virus” or the “Wuhan virus.” high costs of its behaviour. It’s London W6 8BS the coronavirus stands at 2.4 million. How do you They have been dropping dark entirely likely that this will renew outbreak came in, put a price on that? hints about the reparations the focus on the illegality of the Ncoincidentally, the very week In any case, if China were to due from China. A Republican Iraq invasion and its terrible toll. that marked the 17th anniversary be sued over the coronavirus congresswoman and a Repub- In December 2016, the US Ninth Tel: (+44) 20 7602 3999 of the American seizure of Bagh- pandemic, then the US should lican senator have introduced Circuit Federal Court of Appeals Fax: (+44) 20 7602 8778 dad International Airport. be sued over Iraq — and the case resolutions in the House and heard the only case ever filed in The intelligence report on against the United States would Senate respectively, calling for an the United States that questioned China and the pandemic was be the stronger. international investigation into the legality of the Iraq war. The handed to the White House at the The Chinese government is the Chinese Communist Party’s court affirmed immunity for the end of March. It was on April 4, protected by the doctrine of alleged cover-up of the early executive branch, no matter the 2003 that the United States took sovereign immunity and its spread of the coronavirus and scale of the crime. control of Baghdad airport, just a obfuscations in the early days of for China to pay back all affected But then on October 9, Trump US Publisher: few miles from the centre of the the coronavirus outbreak do not nations. tweeted that the United States Iraqi capital. The timing of the US constitute sufficient grounds for But as Yale law Professor “went to war under a false & The Arab Weekly USA LLC. report is unfortunate. a waiver. But the legal precedent Stephen Carter recently noted, now disproven premise” and [email protected] The allegation that China set by the post-Second World sovereign immunity is a “broad” that “millions of people have intentionally concealed the War Nuremberg trials is strong. doctrine, an act of reciprocity. died on the other side.” Trump’s [email protected] extent of the domestic outbreak During the tribunals, prosecutors The US 1976 Foreign Sovereign fulminations were the first Tel: 248-679-6624 is clearly meant to buttress at- successfully argued that the Nazi Immunities Act (FSIA) maintains such admission by a sitting US tempts by American politicians leadership was liable for crimes that shared global understand- president. The tweet could be to make a moral case that Beijing of aggression and crimes against ing, with one US federal court seen as official acceptance by the pay damages. What it actually humanity by invading sovereign saying FSIA is intended “to US government that the Iraq war does is revive memories of the nations without provocation. protect foreign sovereigns from was wrong and resulted in mass false prospectus for the US-led In 2004, then UN Secretary- the burdens of litigation, includ- murder. It may not necessarily invasion of Iraq. General Kofi Annan called the ing the cost and aggravation of result in a viable prosecution of The United States has not been Iraq invasion “illegal.” In 2009, discovery.” It was only in 2016 the US government. However, it held to account for its false public Benjamin Ferencz, one of the that the United States passed the does highlight a key difference Subscription & Advertising: justification for invading a sover- American prosecutors at Nurem- Justice Against Sponsors of Ter- between America’s war in Iraq [email protected] eign nation without provocation. berg, wrote that “a good argu- rorism Act (JASTA), which allows and China’s actions after the cor- Tel : (+44) 020 3667 7249 It has not acknowledged moral ment could be made that the US US citizens to sue foreign govern- onavirus outbreak. The pandemic responsibility for the millions of invasion of Iraq was unlawful.” ments for terrorist acts such as is something that is referred to in casualties inflicted by the war, In 2010, the Dutch parliament 9/11 on American soil. President law as an act of God. War is an act Mohamed Al Mufti the bloody sectarian civil strife called it a breach of international Barack Obama had vetoed it, of man. Marketing & Advertising law. It was the first independent that was subsequently triggered warning that JASTA could expose Manager in Iraq and the destruction of ba- legal assessment of the decision American companies, troops Rashmee Roshan Lall is a sic infrastructure in the country. to invade. and officials to lawsuits in other columnist for The Arab Weekly. Direct: (+44) 20 8742 9262 It has not compensated the Iraqi All of the above is worth re- countries but Congress overrode Her blog can be found at www.alarab.co.uk people, although it’s hard to even membering at this point of time. him. www.rashmee.com and she is on begin to tally the cost of decades US President Donald Trump, his Obama’s warning assumes Twitter: @rashmeerl. 8 April 5, 2020 Viewpoint East West We have to learn to live with the threat of the virus

done about a virus but wait for the infection to go. There are no anti- Haitham biotics for viruses, like the ones we El-Zobaidi have against bacterial infections. So, we’re just going to have to wait for a vaccine. think many governments are So, what’s wrong with that? I acting responsibly towards think confinement, social distanc- their citizens. Strong central ing, sanitary isolation, disinfecting governments, soft democrat- streets and washing hands are all ic ones and governments of good measures, except they are semi-failed states are doing temporary ones. Itheir best to prevent the spread of Take country X, for example, a the coronavirus. The world hasn’t country with a responsible lead- seen global pandemics for decades ership, a strong and effective gov- now and doctors and scientists ernment, with enough resources have become preoccupied with and a solid health sector. In that the details of the diseases of the country, in and out flights have times, such as cancer and Alzhei- been cancelled, people urged to mer’s. For the traditional good work remotely and restaurants old-fashioned diseases, the list of and all other public places closed. effective cures and drugs is a doz- The authorities have acted en-pages long if not more. Nobody quickly, identified the infected is paying attention to high blood people, followed up on them pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and and mounted the biggest aware- other run-of-the-mill infections ness campaign in the country’s anymore. Their treatments are history, while disinfecting every ready, tried and proven. But deal- nook and cranny in the cities. ing with a pandemic is something Citizens felt safe and reassured else, new and confusing. and, after a month or two, the What makes epidemics and authorities declared the country pandemics hard to deal with is that free of the epidemic. In time and there is no known clear strategy to with similar draconian measures Triumphing over fear. Seven-year-old Syrian girl carries her 8-month-old sister in the bombed get out of the crisis. Unless a vac- taken by other countries, there Douma neighbourhood, May 2015. (Reuters) cine against the virus in its current would be enough signs from all form — before it begins to mutate over the world indicating that again — is found quickly, there the pandemic was receding. The rying the virus slips by the cameras assume that the first shutdown into account by everybody. Just isn’t much anybody can do with problem with this scenario is that monitoring passengers’ body tem- did not shake the economy at its as many cities in Syria today and confidence. Right from the start, the statistics used to evaluate the perature at the airport and enters foundations and that country X Sarajevo a few years back had got we know that treating viral infec- situation are only indicative, for country X. Days later, the alarm is had enough reserves to withstand used to living with the threat of tions has its limitations. You get they don’t take into account the raised: the coronavirus is back. the stresses of a complete stoppage snipers and bombs at every corner, the flu and go to the doctor, only to number of cases infected by the So, now we raise some legiti- of life as we know it. Let’s just say we, too, in our modern big cities find out that nothing much can be virus but they don’t know yet, mate questions. Should country that the social fabric in that coun- must prepare ourselves to accept thinking that they have just a X mandate another lockdown? try is still intact. But what about “to live with the present threat.” simple cold. How long and how many times countries where survival is a daily Soon, our slogan is going to be Many in Syria and Still, country X takes the more can people psychologically struggle and where the only project “Forget coronavirus; let’s go back initiative to ease the quarantine and financially afford confine- that people have is swimming to to living.” Sarajevo became measures and life slowly returns to ment conditions? And how often the opposite shore in search of a accustomed to living normal, first socially, then eco- can the country, administratively better life? Dr Haitham El-Zobaidi is an Iraqi nomically. It opens up its borders and economically, withstand the I don’t have the answers to these writer based in London. with the threat of to business as usual. A month or consequences of these emergen- questions, of course, but I think He is the Executive Editor bombs and bombs. two down the road, a traveller car- cies? These are questions that this “new reality” should be taken of Al Arab Publishing Group. Europe needs to take North Africa more seriously

These activities will be in part The Moroccan state pays for the ern Mediterranean. But the south burden on neighbours, especially repatriated to the EU but some of infrastructure works needed for the boycotted the tenth anniversary of Tunisia, whose security expendi- them could be relocated to building of the plants, has some- 1995. The relationship bumped into tures account for 20% of the budget Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, all of times been asked to take a capital a host of problems, including the compared with 5% until 2011. Francis Ghilès which boast an ability to manufac- stake in the new ones and offers insoluble Israeli-Palestinian conflict, As globalisation undergoes major ture up to international standards. generous tax breaks in the first few the 9/11 events, the financial crisis changes once this virus outbreak is European companies have set years of operation. of 2008 and the Arab uprisings of contained, Europe could and should t is a discomforting historical up car factories in China but also in The fact that Morocco is a close 2011. The lofty ideals of a quarter of offer North Africa a much more seri- thought that great power shifts Tangiers. The success of the latter strategic and political ally of France a century have long gone to waste. ous level of economic partnership in the global economy can be shows the added benefit of manu- makes no difference to French be- Throughout the 1990s, however, than it has until now. It should face dangerous. facturing closer to home. haviour. This pattern is repeated in Germany practised a far more active its weaknesses and realise that mak- The rise of Germany after Yet nothing illustrates Europe’s Tunisia. Algeria is different because policy of de-localising to Eastern ing North Africa prosperous carries 1870 and the transfer of he- tightfisted, mercantilist behaviour its oil resources have allowed it to European countries, which even- huge benefits for both rims of the Igemony from Britain to the United better than the manner with which play a more independent game. But tually joined the EU, much more Western Med. States after World War I are but two it has treated Morocco in this sec- with oil prices dropping to $20 a than France ever dreamt of doing in common examples. tor. Leading French and, to a lesser barrel, an economy far less diver- North Africa. The rise of China and the relative extent, German manufacturers sified than that of its neighbours Yet historic, human and eco- The EU’s de-localised decline of Europe and the trade wars export an estimated 100,000 cars and immense challenges spinning nomic ties between the Maghreb activities will be in between the United States and China to Morocco annually. They insist out of the domestic politics of the and Western European countries, argue in favour of a new accommo- and Morocco has agreed that the past 12 months, the Algerian state’s France foremost, are deep and part repatriated to the dation between leading actors. 22.5% import customs charge will economic stewardship does little to longstanding. EU but some of them The COVID-19 pandemic is upend- be waived, which is not the case encourage private manufacturing Europeans worry about China’s ing certain features of globalisation for cars from Japan or Korea. This and is hardly a model, in any case. advances in Africa, but that conti- could be re-located in and questioning the viability of hands the EU car-exporting firms a Back in 1995, the Barcelona Pro- nent, in the view of many leading Tunisia, Algeria and value chains as we know them. profit margin that is the equivalent, cess heralded what appeared to be French and other European busi- Morocco. As tectonic plates shift, North in rough figures, to what the EU of- a new era of economic cooperation nessmen — at least in private — has Africa is definitely not in a comfort- fers in aid each year. between the two shores of the West- already been lost to Europe. The The EU should stop preaching able position. It lacks a common Maghreb remains. But if Europe, en- democracy to Maghreb countries purpose, is incapable of agreeing on couraged by France, if it so wishes, and let them work out their own internationally recognised borders were to engage North Africa more future. This moralising is deeply in- let alone developing common eco- seriously, things could change. The sulting in view of Europe’s capacity nomic projects of mutual interest Chinese will undoubtedly step in if to forget its democratic preaching for the whole region, even though Europe defaults. when and where it suits its interests. they would offer desperately needed Algeria and, to a lesser degree, North Africans are sick and tired of employment. Tunisia and Morocco will have to this discourse which even the less Europe’s attitudes do not help as reform their respective states and educated Tunisians, Algerians and the prism through which it sees the modernise governance, especially Moroccans can see for what it is — Maghreb region is, too, marked by the judiciary. hypocrisy. security considerations. Morocco has more modern banks. Will it lock itself down or will it, The long value chains that have Tunisia has a better educated instead, glance at history and realise seen European companies workforce. The apprenticeship of that this part of the Mediterranean de-localise massively to China democracy is proving hard in Tuni- is drawn to Europe by a time-hon- since the early 1990s will be, to sia but a freely elected parliament oured tradition of trade cooperation some extent, re-arranged after this might prove a more useful basis for well beyond any wedge that extrem- pandemic. reform than old autocratic ways. ists from both shores have tried to Apart from the issue of the heavy The EU has never really considered drive? industrial carbon footprint, France, the economic, political and strategic Germany and the United Kingdom cost of a No-Maghreb. It has done Francis Ghilès is an associate will no longer allow, for example, nothing to try to bring Algeria and fellow at the Barcelona Centre that 80% of the active ingredients in Southern shore. Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum (R) Morocco closer and the ham-fisted for International Affairs. He is a the pharmaceutical products they listens to his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian during a joint intervention of France and the UK frequent contributor to manufacture to be made in China. press conference in the capital Algiers, last January. (AFP) in Libya in 2011 has placed a great The Arab Weekly. April 5, 2020 9 Views & Analysis Khartoum should tackle its terrorist problem before it spins out of control

Mohamed Aboelfadl of sponsors of terrorism despite general sympathy of Muslims.” Khartoum’s many concessions. Security services were warned of Washington praised Khartoum for the dangers of having the Darfur Cairo political progress but it seems that region in western Sudan become a the United States’ concern about destination for Boko Haram, which ecurity assessments predict- Islamist movements in Sudan was was expanding in the Lake Chad ed that Sudan, during the greater than its readiness to re- region, which borders Cameroon, reign of the Islamists, would move Sudan from the terror list. Niger, Nigeria and Chad. S turn into the ideal platform Washington fears that Sudan will Among measures taken by Khar- for intense activity by all Islamist again become an incubator for ter- toum was forming a special army currents. The Islamist movement rorist groups. and police task force to confront in Sudan proved to be flexible ideo- The steps by the Sovereignty threats along the borders with logically and opened Sudan quite Council after the assassination at- Chad, Libya and the Central Afri- early to Islamists around the world. tempt did not touch the Islamists. can Republic. Boko Haram’s terror Even when former Sudanese Hamdok, speaking to the Wall reached deep in Chadian territory. President Omar al-Bashir had to Street Journal last December, Scores of Chadian soldiers were expel some Islamist leaders, it was pointed out that Sudan borders killed by Boko Haram. It is likely essentially for opportunistic rea- seven countries where terrorist the organisation’s expansionist sons so other leaders could survive organisations are active. “We have ambitions will not stop at tradi- in peace. Boko Haram to the West and the tional geographical borders. The Sudanese transitional Sover- Somali youth movement to the Because the transitional author- eignty Council’s priority has been east, [the Islamic State] ISIS in the ity in Sudan has focused mainly on its battle with remnants of the north and the outskirts,” he said. the political situation, security in previous government and its ex- the vast territory along the western tensions in the Islamic movement borders has been neglected, which Recent developments Many fronts. President of the Sudanese Transitional Council Ge- and parties that flourished under presents difficulties for Sudanese neral Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (C) walks alongside military officers al-Bashir. explain why Washington has forces to secure those areas. been reluctant to remove during an army exercise on the outskirts of the capital Khartoum, The declared goal was some- On January 29, the military gov- last October. (AFP) times to safeguard the nascent rev- Sudan from its list of ernor of North Darfur, Major-Gen- olution and, other times, to uproot sponsors of terrorism. eral Malik al-Tayeb Khojali, closed the former deep state and dry up the borders to suspicious vehi- of Sudan,” which hinted at seizing deal more efficiently with the vari- its sources or even cutting off pos- Regardless of the significant cles from neighbouring countries the opportunity to establish an Is- ous forces in its territory. Most of sible resources of a potential coup. threat these movements pose to and impounded any vehicle that lamic State there. those forces have external spon- These were areas in which the gov- the Sudanese state, Hamdok’s crossed the border. Tensions in eastern Sudan about sors, which makes dealing with ernment made some strides but it statements are not commensurate Two weeks after the governor’s two months ago confirmed the them delicate. Such a task requires has not completely closed these with the slowness of Khartoum’s decision, the Customs Police in presence of Islamist forces from frank cooperation with countries files for reasons related to capacity, actions in this regard. Previous North Darfur State said it had Eritrea and Somalia. The region involved in combating terrorism at desire, political will and the prior- statements made it clear that Ham- registered about 15,000 vehicles had been a smuggling route for ter- regional and international levels. ity given to reaching a balance be- dok envisioned that Washington that had entered Sudan illegally, rorist elements and weapons from Inaction by the transitional au- tween visible and hidden powers. would undertake a counterterror- the majority of which were of the the Red Sea, crossing into Sudan thority will feed the flames of cri- Amid these developments, there ism operation in Sudan, similar to four-wheel-drive type belonging to and towards Egypt. ses in the country and prepare the has been a very dangerous issue support it provided to the Sahel. Boko Haram. Politics, history and geogra- ground for more severe crises. concerning the various movements As the time of the arrival of the The move came after a consider- phy have played important roles Time is not on its side because, of the Islamist nebula that have UN political mission that Ham- able number of such vehicles en- in placing Sudan in this difficult the longer it does not deal with taken refuge in Sudan. The issue dok requested nears, beginning in tered North Darfur at almost the situation. A heavy past of politi- this file, the more opportunity of these organisations has disap- May, other aspects of the picture same time. It was suspected that cal manoeuvring, cooperation, al- extremist political forces have to peared from the public radar even become clear. For all practical rea- Boko Haram was trying to estab- liances and coordination by the reposition themselves and their though it is vital for Sudan and oth- sons, Sudan will be monitored and lish a base in Sudan. As the tran- Islamist front in Sudan with other armed wings in Sudan. Countries er countries. supervised by the United Nations, sitional authority focused on ad- parties gave its leaders valuable protecting these forces, such as The failed March 9 assassination facilitating the participation of the dressing remnants of the al-Bashir experience in the art of dirty tricks Turkey and Qatar, will not hesi- attempt on Sudanese Prime Minis- international community in com- regime at the expense of ignoring and manoeuvres. Three decades tate to pump more blood into ter Abdalla Hamdok revealed a sig- bating terrorism that entrenched the danger posed by religious ex- of power enabled it to bulldoze their bodies because they are nificant aspect of the submerged itself in Sudan. tremist groups, Boko Haram in- competing forces and penetrate pawns in the hidden battle in part of the iceberg. Khartoum be- creased its activities in neighbour- the deep fabric of the country and Sudan. gan to pay attention to dangers The danger coming from the West ing countries. create networks of economic inter- Directly confronting these forces lurking in various parts of the On December 6, Sudanese au- ISIS has also shown interest in ests. is more productive than bending country and gladly accepted the thorities said they thwarted an Sudan. Its leaders are convinced Geography, too, played a trick on with the winds and treating crises cooperation of security teams from attempt by Boko Haram to cross that the country is a fertile hot- Sudan. The country borders seven with sedatives. At some point, the numerous countries, the most im- the border from Chad. The opera- spot to restore the organisation’s other countries and has a long Red sedatives cease to have effect and a portant of which were from Egypt tion came about two months after lost lustre. ISIS’s late leader, Abu Sea coastline. Each direction car- storm that the transitional author- and the United States. reports of similar infiltrations into Bakr al-Baghdadi, had expressed ries political, security and social ity will not be able to weather will Sudan. interest in Sudan as a “future bat- contradictions. So, it is natural that come. That’s when things will spin Solving the puzzle Sudanese intellectual Al-Hajj tleground.” these factors contribute to making out of control. These developments shed light Warraq said infiltrated elements Recently, a message was released Sudan the focus of Islamist forces. on the reasons behind Washing- “resorted to waving Islamic sharia by ISIS-affiliated Al Wafa, under The challenge facing Sudan is Mohamed Aboelfadl is an ton’s keeping Sudan on its list law in an attempt to win over the the title “An Appeal to the People growing. The country needs to Egyptian writer. Gantz joins Netanyahu in fractured landscape

Lieberman’s Yisrael Beitenu party not to join a government with Net- however, not to proceed immediately Adding to Netanyahu’s problems (7 seats), the Labour-Gesher-Meretz anyahu at the helm. They and their with annexation until after a new is that some members of his own Gregory bloc (7 seats) and the Joint Arab List followers refused to join Gantz, as Israeli government was formed. But Likud party are upset that he is giv- (15 seats). did the other centre and left parties. now that one is about to be formed, ing prominent cabinet portfolios to Aftandilian Such a coalition would have given The leaders of the Joint Arab List the right-wing parties are clamouring Gantz’s faction. One anonymous Gantz a slight majority (62) seats in also denounced Gantz’s deal with Ne- for action. Likud member told media site Al- n a surprise move, Israel’s Blue the 120-member Knesset. However, tanyahu, which ended their chances However, Gantz has refused to Monitor that “Netanyahu has sold and White leader Benny Gantz three members of the Blue and White of becoming part of a government. promise that he will back annexa- out the right-wing agenda to the left.” decided to join caretaker Prime balked at a coalition that would in- Nonetheless, Gantz’s faction tion, even though during the election In his desperate attempt to remain Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in clude the Israeli Arab parties, which within Blue and White, called campaign he endorsed the Trump prime minister, Netanyahu is clearly a unity government after pledg- effectively scuttled this coalition. Israel Resilience, stayed with him, peace plan with the caveat that he doing whatever he can to stay in his ing for many months he would Soon after, Gantz entered into enough to bring this new coalition would support annexation of the job and hopefully kick his corruption Inot do so because of the indictment negotiations with Netanyahu. The under Netanyahu closer to reality. Jordan Valley with the support of the trial down the road for as long as pos- of the latter on corruption charges. deal that was struck was that Gantz However, despite all of the talk of a international community, though sible (it has now been postponed to Gantz cited the coronavirus pan- would temporarily become speaker unity government, things have hit a only the United States has pledged at least the latter part of May) but his demic as the reason for his change of of the Knesset (which happened on roadblock. such support. Gantz has said he ability to juggle these competing po- heart. In a Facebook post, he wrote: March 27) but would soon become The unity government that Gantz wants veto power over any annexa- litical demands is an open question. “I did what my nation needs. These deputy prime minister and defence would be a part of not only includes tion plans. On a positive note for the Pales- are unusual times. Israel is in a state minister. the right-wing Likud party but also Gantz’s demands have put him at tinians and the peace camp in Israel, of emergency… [the population Another Blue and White member parties to the right of Likud, includ- odds with the right-wing parties such annexation of settlements is on hold faces] a health threat that is taking of Gantz’s faction, Gabi Ashkenazi, ing those tied to the settler as Yamina. In a letter to Netanyahu, now, but it is unclear if Gantz will be human life and [causing] economic would become foreign minister and movement. Yamina leaders threatened to pull out able to maintain his veto demand in devastation…” another would become justice minis- These parties want to proceed of the impending governing coali- these inter-party negotiations. If he However, the real reason may have ter. Netanyahu would remain prime immediately with their long-held tion if Gantz is given veto power over caves on this demand, any long- been a question of mathematics. minister for 18 months and then pass dream of annexation of settlements annexation and if his faction is given term hope for a genuine two-state After getting the nod from Israeli this position on to Gantz. in the West Bank and the Jordan Val- the Defence and Justice portfolios. solution will dissipate, perhaps President Reuven Rivlin to form a Gantz’s decision to join Netanyahu ley. These parties and Likud got a big In addition, a prominent leader of permanently. government, Gantz discovered that caused an immediate rift within Blue boost of support from US President the settler movement, Yossi Dagan he did not have enough votes. and White, which is a coalition in Donald Trump in late January when warned Netanyahu not to give in Gregory Aftandilian is a lecturer at Gantz was hoping to carry the day itself. The other two leaders of Blue he unveiled the US “peace plan,” to Gantz’s demands and reminded the Pardee School of Global Studies with a coalition that would include and White, Yair Lapid and Moshe which endorsed the idea of Israeli the Israeli leader that many settlers at Boston University and is a former his Blue and White party (33 seats), Ya’alon, denounced Gantz’s decision, annexation of the settlements. voted for him because of his promise US State Department Middle East former Defence Minister Avigdor saying it was a betrayal of his pledge US officials pressed the Israelis, to proceed with annexation. analyst. 10 April 5, 2020 Views & Analysis

Coronavirus prompts digital transformation in Gulf countries

Sabahat Khan Cloud technology that can en- able instant communications and team collaboration has meant Dubai many businesses and government organisations around the Arab Gulf he global coronavirus pan- have been able to pivot digitally at demic has prompted a di- short notice even if they were not lemma for organisations ready with their digital posture T on the question of digital before. transformation. As business activ- The long-term impact of this piv- ity slows and even comes to grind- ot will be large on how businesses, ing stop in places, many organisa- government organisations and tions will be inclined to hold on consumers behave and go about to cash and wait until the storm their business in the future, too. has passed before committing Coronavirus has effectively forced budget and resources to major new the world at large and especially projects. key parts of the Arab Gulf to take a The socioeconomic impact of big step into the digital future. coronavirus has been dramatic but Saudi Vision 2030 and Oman Vi- it has shifted work and other key sion 2040 likewise place huge pre- elements of everyday life — from miums on realising digital trans- grocery shopping to banking to formation nationwide in order to schooling — to the online space for unlock new value in the countries’ much of society around the Arab economies and facilitate strate- Gulf. gic efforts to achieve economic Within this backdrop, a grow- diversification. ing number of organisations, par- In banking and finance, mobile ticularly businesses in the private payment solutions are a good ex- sector, have been forced into a ample — the Financial Sector De- rethink about whether now is the velopment Plan (FSDP), which sup- appropriate time to make invest- ports Vision 2030 in Saudi Arabia, ments into digital technology and has targets to increase non-cash Political impediments. Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab arrives at the presidential palace in infrastructure. transactions in the country to 28% Baabda, last January. (Reuters) Internet traffic around the Arab this year and up to 70% by the end Gulf has surged since millions of the decade. Coronavirus is likely of workers have heeded advice to help not hinder these targets. about physical distancing to stay Along with Internet of Things at home, much as elsewhere in the (IoT), the other key elements of world where social lockdowns have digital transformation include the Is Lebanon’s cabinet on needed to be enforced. use of artificial intelligence, block- Across different sectors, medi- chain technology and machine um- and large-sized organisations, learning, essentially to enrich the including hospitals, banks, finan- user or customer experience. the verge of a deadlock? cial institutions and universities, The Middle East and Africa are have pivoted quickly to digital so- expected to spend $30 billion di- lutions and tools to ensure business rectly on digital transformation continuity. The number of services this year alone — geographically collapse and the coronavirus urgently approved a mechanism going digital — basically becoming the Arab Gulf states and sector- outbreak. to secure their return. available from internet-connected wise banking and energy will be The cabinet has been reluctant These three blocs could topple devices at home or on the move — at the forefront of much of this Rami Rayess to announce a state of emer- the current government and re- has been growing larger every day spending. gency to confront the pandemic, place it with a new one whenever for some time but coronavirus has Overall digital transformation preferring to call for public mo- they want. Unverified reports suddenly accelerated the demand is said to make up around a third espite the fragil- bilisation and partial lockdown and leaked information circu- for this even more. of total spending on information ity of Lebanon’s without a strict curfew. This, lated in Beirut recently that June technology in the Middle East and democracy, it has some believe, can partially be might be an appropriate date for Africa but is expected to rise in the managed to survive explained by fear of granting the taking such a step. Of course, no The socioeconomic impact years ahead. in an environment army greater power and access one ponders pursuing such an of coronavirus has been Buoyed by technology provid- that has been domi- to governance. This is an option option in the middle of a global dramatic but it has shifted ers rolling out cloud solutions and Dnated by totalitarian rule. When that President Michel Aoun and pandemic. work and other key tools on low-cost or no-string-at- military coups were fashion- Prime Minister Hassan Diab elements of everyday life tached trials, more and more of the able in the Arab world during would rather not support under to the online space for private sector is learning that, with the 1950s and 1960s, Lebanon’s any circumstance. much of society around the right technology, training and parliament chose military com- The Lebanese army has tra- The ruling the Arab Gulf. management controls, they can re- mander Fouad Chehab as a con- ditionally confronted immense parliamentary blocs main productive even when most sensus candidate and appointed difficulties when local tensions In recent years, the United Arab of their teams work from home. him to the presidency. Although are on the rise and divisions are giving the cabinet Emirates has established itself as a Google is offering free access to he had an easy majority to ex- between Lebanon’s various a hard time by regional leader in digital transfor- advanced features of Hangouts tend his presidential term for an stakeholders increase. The struc- escalating their mation. The Emirati government Meet to all G Suite and G Suite Edu- additional six years in 1964, he ture of the Lebanese army also has played a pioneering role as it cation customers while Microsoft refused and insisted on leaving reflects society’s diversification. requests in return for embraces the “smart government” is offering free trials of Microsoft office. Military intervention cannot take their continued model but it has also provided a fu- Teams to large organisations that In addition to this democratic place in the same manner as in ture vision, infrastructure invest- need to overcome challenges cre- fragility, Lebanon’s diversi- other countries. support. ments and a string of initiatives ated by physical distancing. fied structure and deep divi- Having said that, the cabinet for private sector organisations to The Alibaba-owned DingTalk sions have also allowed foreign is confronting major political Diab faced another challenge begin their own journeys towards a and Tencent’s WeChat Work are interference, no matter who the impediments from the parties after four former prime minis- digital future in a way that is timely other cloud solutions and tools players were. In spite of this, that support it, not to mention ters — Saad Hariri, Najib Miqati, but also safe and secure. that enable team meetings and col- Lebanon has never slipped into the parties that refused to grant Fouad Siniora and Tammam The world did not predict coro- laboration remotely that are seeing military governance. This was it confidence in the first place. Salam — issued a joint statement navirus but years earlier Smart user subscriptions accelerate. always an option beyond Leba- In an astounding analogy, the warning him against following a Dubai 2021, Abu Dhabi Economic For much of the Arab Gulf, the non’s capacity and beyond the ruling parliamentary blocs are twisted approach when mak- Vision 2030 and the UAE Strat- unplanned but sudden pivot to Lebanese army’s ability as well. giving the cabinet a hard time by ing forthcoming administrative egy for Artificial Intelligence were digital solutions and tools has fa- Recently, there have been escalating their requests in re- appointments. Slowly but surely, initiated together with more than cilitated business continuity and demands in Beirut for the mili- turn for their continued support. the government seems to be two dozen interrelated strategic helped preserve tens of thousands tary to take over, a request that Demands range from clientelist increasingly squeezed between initiatives and projects already un- of jobs and also allowed some comes in response to what many administrative appointments its political supporters and op- der way now have been designed sense of normalcy to be preserved Lebanese view as a failure of the for key government positions to ponents. to transform how the United Arab in what are otherwise chaotic times political class overall to properly striking deals in money-gener- Over the last few years, the Emirates works, plays and lives in for much of the world. govern the country amid social ating sectors such as electricity Lebanese have had a bitter the near future. There is nothing to celebrate and others. experience when creating new Across major parts of the UAE, about coronavirus but the acceler- If the three largest support- cabinets consumed long months today, telemedicine has replaced ating demand for digital transfor- ing blocs — Aoun’s Free Patriotic of negotiations — a process that face-to-face consultations with mation, triggered by the outbreak The cabinet has been Movement and the Shia Amal is most probably far too costly doctors, schooling is continuing at in the Arab Gulf, will ultimately reluctant to Movement and Hezbollah — to go through again, particu- home through remote learning and help promote sustainability and withhold their support for Diab’s larly taking into account the even Dubai’s real estate developers preserve the environment as well announce a state of government, it would collapse enormous economic, financial have taken their sales teams vir- as lend long-term momentum emergency partially immediately. Nabih Berri, the and social difficulties Lebanon tual to discuss investment options to economic diversification ef- because of its fear of powerful speaker of parliament is facing. The status quo might on-demand. Emirati government forts in ways that few could have and Amal Movement leader, serve best for the time being, at leaders have been pictured dis- anticipated. granting the army harshly criticised Diab and his least for the major players in the pensing everyday duties and work- greater power and cabinet for their hesitation to Lebanese political elite. ing remotely using teleconferenc- Sabahat Khan is a senior analyst at repatriate Lebanese trapped ing and other cloud collaboration the Institute for Near East and Gulf access to abroad by the coronavirus pan- Rami Rayess is a Lebanese tools. Military Analysis (INEGMA). governance. demic. The cabinet subsequently writer. April 5, 2020 11 Economy

Morocco copes with economic fallout of COVID-19

Mohamed al-Alawi uids, face masks and medical vests, aseptic suits, surface cleaning solu- tions, medical sterilisation equip- Rabat ment and first aid items. Jouahri said the central bank had ank Al-Maghrib Gover- instituted procedures to support nor Abdellatif Jouahri an- credit institutions, including require- nounced new measures that ments for liquidity, self-financing B allow Morocco’s central bank and debt allocations to help compa- to triple resupply of funds to local nies support families and enterprises banks to counter the effects of the during the crisis. COVID-19 outbreak. He acknowledged the pandemic He said the measures would allow would have major repercussions on banks to use all refinancing meth- the global economy, including in Mo- ods in local and foreign currencies rocco, and stressed the government’s and for the central bank to expand commitment to track the effects on the range of bonds and securities the economy and financial system it would accept in exchange for re- and taking the necessary initiatives financing and extend deadlines on to address them. refinancing. Moroccan Prime Minister Saad Ed- Bank Al-Maghrib said the steps in- dine El Othmani said the country had clude strengthening its programme taken unprecedented and forward- for refinancing micro, small and looking steps since the beginning of medium-sized projects by merging the pandemic. operational loans and investment The government offered financial loans and increasing the pace of support for families working in the refinancing. informal sector. The Economic Vigi- lance Committee started by focusing on measures to support the infor- Moroccan Prime Minister mal sector affected by generalised Saad Eddine El Othmani quarantine. said the country had taken The Ministry of Economy said unprecedented and Limiting damage. A 2019 file picture shows Bank Al-Maghrib Governor Abdellatif Jouahri speaking families consisting of two individu- during a news conference in Rabat. (Reuters) forward-looking steps als or less would receive about $80 a since the beginning of the month, those with three or four indi- pandemic. viduals $100 and families with more a month each in addition to reim- companies from going bankrupt and individuals affected by the crisis. Tax than four members would receive bursement for medical expenses for for preserving jobs. The centre point- auditing and reviews were suspend- The Moroccan Ministry of Indus- $120. those in the compulsory health in- ed out that the real estate and food ed and there were moves towards es- try, Trade and Green and Digital The government, the Social Se- surance system. industries were among sectors hit tablishing a fund to support affected Economy introduced a programme curity Fund and the General Union The agreement states that com- the hardest by the pandemic. sectors. to support investments in manu- of Moroccan Contractors (the rep- pulsory contributions to the Social The Economic Vigilance Com- The Professional Group of Moroc- facturing products and equipment resentative of the private sector) Security Fund would be suspended mittee established measures to aid can Banks is allowing individuals destined for fighting the coronavirus signed an agreement detailing sup- until June 30. The agreement could medium and small companies from and businesses to postpone payment pandemic. port measures to sectors affected by be extended, depending on the economic crises and prevent the of loan instalments for three months This programme would help re- the coronavirus pandemic. coronavirus-related situation in the collapse of banking transactions to upon written request with the pos- vive these companies with about All employees registered with the country. maintain confidence in the economy. sibility of the grace period being ex- 30% of the total investment package Social Security Fund, including peo- The Moroccan Centre for Eco- The committee suspended the tended for three additional months. needed. ple from the fishing sector and those nomic Conditions said the measures March 31 tax deadline and ordered The targeted projects include com- suspended from work because of announced by the government were banks to stop automatic deductions Mohamed al-Alawi is a Moroccan panies manufacturing sterilising liq- the pandemic, would receive $200 appropriate for preventing many of loan payments for businesses and writer.

Viewpoint Nasrallah tries to pin the blame for the system’s failure on banks

banking sector take full responsibility recently, he tacitly addressed bank ment is considering a capital control While Lebanese banks are indeed for. Ironically, this same banking sec- owners themselves, saying: “How can bill to limit the flow of foreign capital guilty of indulging in the loan shark tor has long been praised by the same we appeal to the humanity of these in and out of the country, thus ending game and lending the Lebanese state Makram Rabah political class as being the engine of bank owners? I wish you [the public] Lebanon’s so-called liberal economy. money that it simply squandered Lebanon’s economy and a living tes- can help me… figure how to address The pro-Hezbollah cabinet of Prime away, holding these banks as solely tament to the myth of the country’s them.” Minister Hassan Diab is also consider- responsible will only propagate the n the first year of law school, ingenuity and entrepreneurship — “I do not want to open the many ing and promoting one of the most crisis. The restructuring of the bank- students are taught that “a until it collapsed, that is. files [we have on] how they made detested options — a so-called “hair- ing sector through recapitalisation plaintiff will be unable to pursue The intention to scapegoat their fortunes, although we might cut” that would include deducting and consolidation is a matter that legal remedy if it arises in con- Lebanese banks is apparent from the have to do so at a later time,” Nasral- part of the deposits to cover banks’ needs to be addressed, but in the nection with his own illegal rhetoric of the political elite, who lah added. equity losses and ultimately lead immediate future it will not solve act.” This legal doctrine, known always emphasise that banks have Whilst it is true that the banking to the devaluation of the Lebanese debt restructuring concerns. The Ias ex turpi causa non oritur actio, made millions of dollars and are sector has made billions because pound. survival of a strong banking sector prevents someone from benefiting thus compelled to give back to the of the unwise financial borrowing Both of these half-baked measures for Lebanon, whether consolidated from wickedness and illegality, which country. In his latest televised speech, policy of successive governments, will not remedy Lebanon’s economic or reduced in size, is a very important Lebanon’s political elite have made Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan the real blame rests with the politi- situation but further polarise and component for the success of the gov- fortunes from doing. Nasrallah unleashed a new violent at- cal class that Hezbollah has been a cement the banks as public enemy ernment’s restructuring programme, This simple legal doctrine comes tack on the Lebanese banking sector part of since at least 2005, when it number one. Conversely, one of the as the international community will to mind when the Lebanese political with the intention or protecting small agreed to join the executive branch of essential steps towards proper reform need to work through the system. elite try to justify the abysmal state depositors, or so he claimed. Nasral- government. It is no coincidence that requires Diab’s cabinet to clearly of affairs and the economic collapse lah’s sermon-style lectures have Nasrallah’s verbal bombardment of chart how it will pay its creditors, that they cheekily insist the Lebanese taken a clearly threatening tone. Most the banks comes at a time the govern- whether Eurobond holders or others The change will not and, more importantly, the reforms it proposes to enact to ensure sufficient come at the hands of liquidity is available to pay back its the same political class debts, both on a short- and long-term and, more importantly, basis. If Lebanon cannot prove to its own people and, more importantly, not Hezbollah, which the international community its will stop at nothing to willingness to carry out reform, cut down on expenses and properly fight ensure that Lebanon corruption, it will fail to secure the never rises again. much-needed foreign currency injec- tion, which is the only option at the The Lebanese system in its entirety moment. is in serious need of a radical over- But rather than carrying out these haul, including the banking sector reforms, the Diab cabinet and, more that needs to return to its proper importantly, Hezbollah are offering role of loaning and facilitating the capital control and the haircut as the activities of the private sector. Yet, only way out of the ongoing financial this change will certainly not come at calamity. Capital control might tem- the hands of the same political class porarily delay capital flight, at least and, more importantly, Hezbollah, for those that have not already flown, which will stop at nothing to ensure but it will not be capable of providing that Lebanon never rises again. liquidity to the markets. As it stands, the Diab cabinet has done nothing to Makram Rabah is a lecturer at properly qualify to receive any form the American University of Beirut of funding from the international and author of “Conflict on Mount community, specifically the World Lebanon: The Druze, the Maronites Blame game. Clients wearing protective masks line up to use ATM machines outside a closed bank in Bank or the International Monetary and Collective Memory” (Edinburgh Beirut, Lebanon. (AP) Fund (IMF). University Press). 12 April 5, 2020 Society Facing the Pandemic

Poor working conditions hamper Egypt’s medical professionals’ effort to stop spread of virus

Marwa al-A’sar quarantine hospitals. However, the physicians’ syndicate said the raise “did not conform to the efforts Cairo and sacrifices made by the health professionals.” or decades Egypt’s health- “If you do some calculations, you care professionals, con- will find out that a doctor will get sidered by many to be un- about an extra 400 pounds ($25) F derpaid, have struggled to after taxes are deducted,” said Ibra- improve their working conditions, him el-Zayat, an Egyptian Medical which have been greatly tested by Syndicate board member. He said COVID-19 pandemic. medical personnel are “long-time Egyptian officials and the public fighters who put their lives at stake have expressed appreciation for the every day.” efforts of the medical sector. Egyp- Zayat said that, as of March 29, at tian Prime Minister Mostafa Madb- least 30 medical personnel in Egypt ouli described Egyptian doctors and had contracted the coronavirus. He nurses as the “first line of defence” said the precarious conditions of On the frontline. Medical staffers treating patients of the COVID-19 pandemic at al-Hakim General Hospital and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi medical staff were aggravated by in Iraq’s central shrine city of Najaf. (AFP) said they were “fighting a battle the shortage of medical supplies similar to a real war.” and equipment, which increases Egyptian social media users the risk of infection. shared stories and photos of doctors “There is a nationwide shortage and nurses at the quarantine hospi- of personal protective equipment Medical ‘Wonder Women’ tals, paying tribute to their efforts that keeps doctors and nurses from in containing the virus, which has contracting COVID-19 and other killed more than 40 people and in- possible viruses,” Zayat said. “The fected more than 500 in the country. syndicate has received several making a difference in the However, such recognition has complaints from doctors who said not materialised into monetary re- that they bought them at their own muneration in a country where in- expense.” region’s fight on coronavirus fection risk allowances paid to doc- tors and nurses working for public hospitals are 9-30 Egyptian pounds From 2016-19, more than Imene Boudali cases received in the hospital. hospitals, women are joining hands ($0.57-$1.91), figures last adjusted in 10,000 doctors left the Dr Merai was also the one who sug- with men in fighting the pandemic. 1995. country. gested placing all COVID-19 pa- Beyond Tunisia, many medical pro- “I’m a consultant anaesthesiolo- Tunis tients in one centralised hospital in fessionals across the Arab world are gist with a monthly salary of 3,000 “While there is a huge shortage order to facilitate their treatment setting an example and giving their pounds ($191). I work extra shifts at of masks, gloves and disinfectants, rom Merit-Ptah, the ancient and contain the disease. Other fe- all to help win the battle. a private hospital to make a decent Egypt sent medical supplies to Italy Egyptian healer, to Rufaida male professionals are overseeing In Syria, Dr Iman Mohamed Abdel- living, which is very exhausting,” and China in the form of assistance,” Al-Aslamia, known as the first reconstruction work aimed at ex- Razzaq is one of the many heroes said a female doctor who declined complained one nurse speaking F female surgeon in Islamic his- panding the medical facility’s abil- risking their lives on the frontlines. to be named, working for a public on condition of anonymity. “The tory, to Tunisian pioneering doctor ity to accommodate more patients. As an emergency physician, she has hospital. deadly virus does not differentiate Tawhida Ben Cheikh, the Middle East Dr Merai’s actions and ideas encour- launched an individual initiative “It is not just about the infec- between a nurse and patients. All and North Africa region has been the aged other female health-care work- touring the northern Idlib camps to tion allowance,” she said. “We are are at risk of contagion,” he added. birthplace of unique and exceptional ers to give more. “I see what they raise awareness of the dangers of the concerned about ourselves. Who Egypt has been facing a seri- women medical professionals. do and they make me believe in our coronavirus and how to prevent it. would treat us when we get sick or ous wave of emigration by physi- Today, figures show an increas- health system,” she says, proudly. Meeting women and children, exhausted for standing long hours cians, deeply affecting the quality ingly female-dominated sector in the Dr Merai is among a number of fe- she takes a daily tour of the refugee in the operating room? There is no of health care in the country. From Arab world: Women represent 65% male doctors playing key roles in the camps to provide advice and guid- proper health-care system offered to 2016-19, more than 10,000 doctors of the medical doctors in the United war on the coronavirus in Tunisia. ance on the threat of the virus in doctors working for the government left the country, the Egyptian Medi- Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain, On the public awareness-building light of the lack of health services in Egypt.” cal Syndicate said. 61.5% of the graduate medical resi- front, Dr Nissaf Ben Alaya, an epide- and cleanliness in the space. In 2017, a court overturned a rul- The Egyptian Ministry of Health dents in Oman and more than 60% miologist and head of the National In Beni Suef, Egypt, eight female ing that would have increased risk said there are 103,000 doctors for of the health sector workforce in Tu- Observatory of New and Emerging nurses working in the Department of allowance to 1,000 pounds ($64). about 100 million citizens — about nisia. Women constitute 79% of the Diseases, has been offering daily Chest Diseases have volunteered to With the outbreak of the corona- ten doctors per 10,000 citizens. The nurses in Jordan. briefings to the media since the be- stay inside the local hospital perma- virus, the medical corps renewed global average is 32 doctors for eve- Their numbers include talented ginning of the crisis. Another public nently to work with the team of doc- calls for better working conditions. ry 10,000 citizens. and dedicated health workers who, health figure is Dr Agnès Hamzaoui, tors treating coronavirus patients. On These coincided with Egypt’s Na- There are many reasons discour- today more than ever, face the big- director of the Abderrahmen Mami the other side of the Atlantic, Dr Ner- tional Doctors’ Day, March 18. aging doctors from practising in gest and riskiest challenge of their Hospital, the only health centre in meen Botros, an Egyptian-American The Egyptian Medical Syndicate, Egypt, including relatively low sala- careers. the country exclusively dedicated to doctor, has become an online sensa- the main association representing ries and undesirable working condi- In the face of the pandemic, which coronavirus patients. tion after an interview in The New physicians, called on Sisi to raise tions, such as poor medical facilities has officially infected so far about Women medical professionals in York Post. Chief medical resident at the risk allowance to at least 2,000 and a lack of supplies in government 400 people in their country, Tunisian the private sector are offering help Brookdale University Hospital Medi- pounds ($127). On March 29, Sisi hospitals. doctors, nurses and other medical to their colleagues in public hospi- cal Centre in Brownsville, New York, raised the monthly professional al- Doctors say they need laws to pro- professionals have been working day tals. Some private clinics have even the 35-year-old has been working six- lowance for doctors, nurses and tect them from patients and their and night trying to limit the damage offered to treat patients for free and day weeks, from early morning until pharmacists working for public and families when they become belliger- and make a difference while increas- their staff have responded positively late in the evening, dealing with the university hospitals 75%. There was ent if doctors can’t successfully treat ing risk to themselves. to the initiative. overwhelming inflow of cases. no mention, however, of an infec- them or if patients don’t like some “We can talk about real gender par- Female healthcare professionals tion risk increase. aspect of their medical care. ity here in the health sector. Women are not only treating patients but also Sisi announced a fund for dis- represent 50% of the total number of Today, figures show an suggesting solutions to put an end to asters and ordered bonuses to be Marwa al-A’sar is a Cairo-based doctors in the country and they also increasingly female- the pandemic. Dr Heba Badreddine, offered to medical personnel at journalist. represent a 60% majority of medi- dominated sector in the a Sudanese doctor specialising in cal school students,” Samira Merai, a Arab world. stem cell treatments and hematol- lung specialist and former health and ogy, believes stem cell technology women’s affairs minister, told The Marwa H, a private clinic nurse could help treat the coronavirus. Arab Weekly. (who preferred not to give her full An associate professor at Khar- Currently head of the pulmonary name), told The Arab Weekly she is toum’s Neelain University, she ex- diseases department at the Rabta willing to stay at work and confine plained that stem cell treatment can hospital, one of the most important herself for up to a month away from be used to reduce complications public health establishments in the her family just to be of help. caused by the virus to the lungs, pos- capital, Tunis, Dr Merai underlined “It is our role, no matter how small sibly offering new ways to beat the the importance of the role played by or large, to support our country in disease. women in the war against the coro- these circumstances. I am not the Women medical professionals navirus threat. None of the female only one to have offered this aid, know that the war against the in- doctors is claiming any particular dozens like me have been helping visible enemy of coronavirus is not advantage or protection because of every day for weeks, women left without risk to them. The pandemic their gender. family and comfort to participate in has also infected quite a few mem- “In all the hospitals of the coun- the general efforts in this war,” said bers of the “white army.” Iraqis are try, I see resilient women who have the nurse. “It is a war and we are its still mourning the female doctor who pledged to work for days away from soldiers, despite the growing risk.” died in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, their families in order to help the From the doctors to the cleaning after contracting coronavirus when country overcome the crisis,” said janitors to the factory employees treating patients. Dr Sara Hassan al- Dr Merai. who self-isolated to manufacture Musawi had passed away from com- To lead by example and reassure face masks daily to the business- plications of the virus at the age of 35. the employees, the former min- women who offered to shelter pa- Tough days. A general view of the General Hospital of Hurghada ister was the one who took blood tients in their hotels and deliver food Imene Boudali is a Tunisian where many of the foreign tourists infected with COVID-19 were samples from the first suspected for the health-care workers of the reporter. treated. (AFP)