Coronavirus Reading List

“International humanitarian organization CARE, which just began operating in Colombia last year, planned to work with local organizers and women’s groups to conduct a rapid gender assessment in the coming weeks about the needs of beneficiaries to launch its Women Lead in Emergencies program. But now, the closure of the border with Venezuela and strict quarantine orders from the Colombian government prevent CARE staff and local organizers from conducting in-person focus groups and interviews as originally planned.” Read the story.

“As wealthy countries like the United States and Italy struggle with mass outbreaks of the coronavirus, international health experts and aid workers are increasingly worried that the virus could ravage the world’s most vulnerable people: the tens of millions forced from their homes by violent conflict. ‘The one thing that everyone is stressing in combating the coronavirus is to create social distance but that is precisely what is impossible for refugees,’ said Deepmala Mahla, the regional director for Asia for CARE.” Read the story.

An estimated 24 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Yemen. “No matter how difficult the situation gets in the rest of the world, it’s worse here,” said CARE Yemen Country Director Aaron Brent. In a special interview, Brent addresses the threat of COVID-19 and the potential impact the virus will have on humanitarian aid. Read the story.

“The world’s most vulnerable people, including refugees and those caught in crisis, could be last in line for support to deal with the coronavirus outbreak, experts have warned. Countries already dealing with humanitarian and refugee crises face a struggle to find the resources to deal with the pandemic by the time it reaches them, specialists said in a webinar hosted by the New Humanitarian news agency on Thursday.” Read the story.

“Already facing a gender pay gap, women in the U.S. are less prepared to weather a financial blow than men. The industries almost entirely shut down by the virus are disproportionately staffed by women. Women also hold many of the jobs considered vital during this national emergency, meaning they’re being asked to stay on the front lines longer, risking their health and safety.” Read the story.

Though COVID-19 has yet to be documented in Yemen, five years of conflict means the country’s shattered healthcare infrastructure and already weakened population suggest the virus could wreak more havoc if it takes hold. “It is a perfect storm of a disaster should this virus introduce itself,” the country’s World Health Organization (WHO) representative, Altaf Musani, said. Read the story.

As the first case of coronavirus is confirmed in Syria, CARE is deeply concerned about the health and safety of over three million people in Northwest Syria, over half of whom are internally displaced and live in crowded camps. “Illnesses do not know borders and a likely outbreak in Syria will overwhelm the already stretched aid response,” said Nirvana Shawky, CARE’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. Read the story.

“Women are as much as ten times more likely than men to stay home from work with sick children, and there are five times as many single mothers as single fathers in the United States. Women also disproportionately hold jobs in industries with poor protections, such as paid family leave and paid sick leave, without which they can’t afford to miss days of work to care for children or elderly relatives—let alone themselves.” Read the story.

“We know that when emergencies hit, women and girls come last,” says CARE’s Humanitarian Policy Director Susannah Friedman. CARE’s new policy brief shows that even though current data might indicate that men and the elderly are more likely to contract the virus, women and girls will suffer the inequitable hardships as a result of the pandemic. Read the story.

“Even as [WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus] raised the health emergency to its highest level, Tedros said hope remains that COVID-19 can be curtailed. And he urged countries to take action now to stop the disease. ‘WHO has been in full response mode since we were notified of the first cases,’ Tedros said. ‘And we have called every day for countries to take urgent and aggressive action.’” Read the story.

Chris Withington works in the humanitarian and emergency response unit of CARE Australia and was part of the Ebola response in West Africa. “In West Africa, it was only once we started to truly engage with local people and get local leaders to help spread vital health information that the virus came under control. Trust takes time, so if we want to stem the spread of coronavirus in the world’s poorest countries, we need to start now,” he says. Read the story.

“How do you wash your hands several times a day when there is no access to clean water in your entire camp?” Read the story.

“Around 700,000 Rohingya refugees who arrived in Bangladesh in 2017 in a mass exodus from neighbouring Myanmar live in huts built out of plastic and bamboo in an area half the size of Manhattan. They face overstretched and poorly-resourced health services which is ‘why we have been advocating for refugees to be included in national preparedness and response plans,’ said Louise Donovan, spokeswoman of the U.N.’s refugee agency.” Read the story.

“A drop of ordinary soap diluted in water is sufficient to rupture and kill many types of bacteria and viruses, including the new coronavirus that is currently circling the globe. The secret to soap’s impressive might is its hybrid structure.” Read the story.

When coronavirus hits the poorest countries in the world — places already fighting famine, extreme poverty, & deadly violence — it will be devastating. CARE is moving quickly to help prepare the most vulnerable people, including women, girls and refugee populations, for the coming outbreak. Read the story and learn more about CARE’s response and how you can help.

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