at Dadhaleh Institute

Economic inequities threaten COVID-19 response

The growing pandemic funding gap The gap between donor commitments and the funding needed to respond to [ ... ]

The World Food Programme has identified 25 ‘hotspots’ where acute hunger is reached devastating levels. Most of the countries stretch between West and East Africa, while vulnerable populations in Latin American and Middle Eastern countries, where the pandemic has exacerbated income losses, disrupted supply chains that contributed to surging food prices. The WFP and FAO previously estimated that food security could increase by 81% this year to almost 270 million people. Every 1% rise in acute hunger also contributes to a 2% increase in refugee outflows, which further threaten vulnerable populations as well as regional stability. The UN released an updated COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan last week, with the $4.9 billion WFP response accounting for nearly half of the sum, and an additional $500 million special provision for the 25 hotspots most at risk of famine.
A new study in PLoS Medicine shows that combining severe and moderate acute malnutrition treatments into a simplified protocol could be as effective as traditional treatment while saving $123 per child. The ‘Combined Protocol for Acute Malnutrition Study’ was conducted by LSHTM, the International Rescue Committee and Action Against Hunger, and found that the combined protocol was 76.3% effective at promoting nutritional recovery, which is slightly better than the 73.5% for standard treatment. With 50 million children currently not receiving malnutrition treatment, the efficacy and cost savings could translate into program expansions, with three million child deaths a year are linked to malnutrition.

The UN released an updated COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan, doubling its appeal to $10.3 billion, more than 80% of which would support responses in 63 low-income countries. Another $1.8 billion would be directed for ‘global requirements’, transport of aid workers and supplies accounting for $1 billion, with a further $300 million allocated directly for NGOs and $500 million for 25 ‘hotspots’ most at risk of famine. The UN Emergency Response Coordinatorwent on to warn that the pandemic and the associated global recession are about to wreak havoc in fragile states, while describe the response by wealthier countries as “grossly inadequate and dangerously short-sighted.”
The timely and directed appeal comes as G20 Finance Ministers and heads of central banks are set to meet virtually this coming Saturday. An estimated $11 trillion in stimulus packages have been appropriated by G20 countries as part of an unprecedented economic response, representing 10% of global GDP. To protect the most vulnerable 10% of the world across 32 low-income countries would meanwhile cost less than $90 billion, which is less than 1% of domestic stimulus packages by wealthier countries. The UN Emergency Response Coordinator contrasted the solidarity and international coordination in the aftermath of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, particularly highlighting the need to reinforce and reassert the role of the IMF and World Bank in supporting lower income countries.

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During the Sustainable Development Goals progress review meeting over the weekend, the UN Secretary General issued one of his strongest rebukes of the international community for systemic inequities that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed. In a significant departure from his traditional diplomatic tone, the Mandela Day speech by the UN head noted the many “myths, delusions, and falsehoods” around international progress on equality. Among the examples he listed was the “lie that free markets can deliver healthcare for all. The fiction that unpaid care work is not work, the delusion that we live in a post-racist world, the myth that we are all in the same boat.” He went on to call for a “New Social Contract” with commitment of renewed and inclusive multilateralism, while urging for fundamental reforms to the UN Security Council, the IMF, and the World Bank.
Humanitarian response locations remain a particular cause for concern, including in sub-Saharan Africa which is home to over 26% of the world’s refugees. Ongoing conflicts and persistent attacks have led to the closure of hundreds of health facilities, including in Mali and Burkina Faso where 1.5 million people are left without adequate health care. During its Monday media briefing, the WHO cited a recent study by Oxford University highlights the risk of conflict on outbreaks, identifying 63 fragile countries currently facing unrest and conflict in the background of the COVID-19 pandemic, while additional 13 countries are projected to experience new conflicts over the next two years. The study further estimates that the average cost to host and neighbouring countries for a civil war is about $60 billion, while 100 million could be pushed into extreme poverty and 130 million face starvation.

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During its Monday media briefing, the WHO Director General outlined four types of COVID-19 outbreaks occurring globally, including countries that [1] responded rapidly and avoided large outbreaks, [2] brought large outbreaks under control, [3] overcame their first peak and are struggling with new peaks, and [4] are currently in the intense transmission phase. The last category presents the biggest immediate risk and includes ten countries that account for almost 80% of new infections, with half of these in the U.S. and Brazil alone. The rate of new infections in the U.S. does not appear to be slowing despite an increase in testing, with total cases expected to surpass 4 million this week. With over 2 million confirmed cases, the outbreak in Brazil continues to be a major concern, particularly in light of irregularities in official government figures. This led to a stand-off last month between Brazilian President Bolsonaro– who has been criticized for downplaying the pandemic despite testing positive for the virus last week – and the Supreme Court, which prompted one Justice to demand the government immediately “re-establish the daily dissemination of epidemiological data on the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The Red Cross Red Crescent has warned that South Asia is quickly becoming the next epicentre of the pandemic, with rapidly rising cases across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. With the second highest number of daily new cases and over 1.1 million confirmed infections, the outbreak in India is rapidly escalating. This includes the Delhi metropolitan area that is home to 25 million people and accounts for almost half of all cases in the country. The latest projection from MIT, still under peer review, warns that India could have the largest number of cases in the next six months, with modelling scenarios estimating up to 287,000 cases per day in the absence of stronger public health measures.
Across Africa, the number of COVID-19 infections surpassed 750,000 this week, as the over 15,000 mortalities over the past five months have now exceeded the total number of lives lost to the West African Ebola outbreak between 2014 and 2016. At least 22 African countries have seen the number of Coronavirus cases double in the last month, with at least 35 countries experiencing community transmission. With the largest number of cases on the continent, South Africa recently re-imposed a ban on the sale of alcohol to reduce avoidable injuries and the burden on hospitals, while tightening curfews and mask requirements. Fragile health systems in many countries on the continent are increasingly overwhelmed, according to the WHO Director for Africa, who called on governments and the international community to scale up public health measures such as testing, contact tracing and case isolation. There is particular fear of outbreaks among vulnerable populations such as humanitarian response locations, marginalized communities as well as elderly populations, who are on average ten times more at risk of death, although they only account for 20% of COVID-19 infections in Africa.
Countries that previously succeeded in containing the virus are meanwhile reporting resurgence in cases, such as Hong Kong where a third wave of outbreaks prompted renewed lockdowns and physical distancing measures. A paper in the BMJ shows how COVID-19 related mortalities in Mexico have also tripled since the country began to relax lockdowns in early June despite warnings by experts and local health officials questioning official figures by the government. The cost of a subsequent lockdown in OECD countries alone has been estimated at US$1.1 trillion in additional output losses this year, which would increase five-fold if an outbreak were to occur in early 2021.

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The WHO and UNHCR signed an agreement to strengthen partnerships and operational capacities that focus on improving access to health services for some 70 million forcibly displaced people around the world from COVID-19. The poorest countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America are facing pandemic-induced economic and public-health emergencies that demand immediate action. G20 leaders therefore must agree now on measures to prevent the current recession from deepening, and to mitigate its impact on the world’s most vulnerable people. We are at a critical moment, because the poorest countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America are facing economic and public-health emergencies that demand immediate action.

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Updates on COVID-19 clinical trials

The pace of research and development for treatments and vaccines for the novel Coronavirus has intensified, with dozens of clinical trials underway around the world. Several papers were published over the weekend with preliminary findings on the two largest studies that were both stopped for different reasons.

In the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers reported on a randomized double-blind study for remdesivir by the U.S. CDC that was stopped prematurely due to positive preliminary results. For patients hospitalised with COVID-19, the antiretroviral appears to reduce the recovery time (by four days) and mortality (from 12% to 7%), while presenting no additional adverse events. While this is promising, the results appear to be worse for visible minorities (a group that has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic). Researchers have also been surprised that patients treated sooner after symptom onset may not have markedly better outcomes than those treated later in the course of disease.
A paper in the Lancet, meanwhile, presents on the WHO Global COVID-19 Solidarity Trail on chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. Based on the advice of the WHO Executive Group – comprised of experts from ten countries involved in the trial – the observational study was stopped as preliminary findings suggest the possibility of higher mortality rates. The WHO Chief Scientist committed to a comprehensive analysis of all emerging clinical trial data globally to consider benefit and harm, acknowledging that unlike randomized controlled trials, observational studies have been known to yield misleading results. Expertshave also critiqued the failure of the study to adequately adjust for the fact that many of the patients in the trial are more likely to be severely ill and already at increased risk of death.

Ethics of controlled Coronavirus infection

An article in Science this week also expresses concern in the growing trend of researchers pursuing, and thousands of people expressing interest in participating in, controlled human infection (CHI) studies, i.e. deliberately exposing healthy people to COVID-19 to study infection and treatment efficacy. The authors present an ethical framework for CHIs that emphasizes “social value” as fundamental in justifying these studies. The proposed Ethical Framework for SARS-CoV-2 CHI considers six additional criteria, including: Reasonable Risk-Benefit Profile, Context-Specific Stakeholder Engagement, Suitable Site Selection, Fair Participant Selection, Robust Informed Consent, and Proportionate Payment.

Everyone in the (patent) pool

More than 100 former heads of government and leading scientists have urged all COVID-19 related research and intellectual property to be shared freely, and for the equitable distribution of vaccines. An editorial this week in Nature laments that the growing concern of “techno-protectionism” necessitates such a letter, while highlighting the remarkable speed of advancements as a result of global consortia of researchers (“Work that would normally have taken months, possibly years, is completed in weeks”). The Nature article focuses particularly on the patent pool model that is was popularized by the UNITAID Medicines Patent Pool that was successful in bringing antiretrovirals to market.

The World Health Assembly Resolution last week made explicit reference to IP rights flexibilities with respect to R&D, manufacturing and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. Support was not unanimous, however, as some countries (notably the U.S. and the U.K) and research consortia (including the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) expressed their preference for conventional models where vaccine developers retain the IP rights that they may sub-license and their determined price. An article in the Harvard Business Review drew attention to the dangers of this form of ‘vaccine nationalism’, particularly as the underlying research thus far has been pooled and governments around the world have shouldered much of the risk in funding the vaccine effort.

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Global Map of COVID-19 Innovations

StartupBlink in collaboration with Health Innovation Exchange (a UNAIDS initiative) and the Moscow Agency of Innovations launched a Coronavirus Innovation Map this week. The platform aims to connect innovators with venture capital and government officials in order to support the response to COVID-19 and address its impacts across five categories: prevention, diagnosis, treatment, information and life and business adaptation. Over 500 innovations are currently on the visual database, and the Health Innovation Exchange has committed to producing a report on shortlisted innovations to share with country partners.

Local Challenges, Local Solutions: African Innovators and COVID-19

Among the WHO reforms in 2018 were three key priorities: increasing capacity around digital health, recruiting diverse and younger leaders, and seeking local solutions to local challenges. This past week, the WHO AFRO Regional Office hosted an inaugural virtual event at the intersection of all three: showcasing solutions by young African innovators that have been implemented to address local challenges in responding to the pandemic. From the 350 innovators in attendance, the virtual event highlighted eight projects, including interactive public transport contact tracing apps, mobile testing booths and low-cost critical care beds. The event builds on a ‘Hackathon’ the WHO AFRO Region hosted in April to develop scalable solutions that align with one of the priority areas, providing seed funding to three projects.

Ten actions to boost local manufacturing in developing countries

Record demand globally for medical supplies like PPEs, diagnostics and treatments for COVID-19 has disproportionately affected affordability and access in developing countries. While local and regional production has gained more prominence, producers and investors in developing countries often face unique challenges. The UNCTAD highlights at least five: lack of capital, technical and resource capacity; low quality and regulatory standards; weak enabling policy frameworks; small markets and unstable demand; and poor physical infrastructure. In order to increase coordination and cooperation with existing initiatives (e.g. WHO voluntary technology pool and ACT Accelerator Global Response Framework) and partner agencies (e.g. The Global Fund, UNICEF, UNIDO, and UNAIDS), the UCTAD proposes the following ten actions to boost medicine production capacity in developing countries:

Investment in skills development to ensure GMP-compliant production
Sharing COVID-19-related technologies to enable affordable mass production
Target impact investors to access necessary capital
Build partnerships to initiate “lighthouse” projects on low-hanging fruit
Improve investment incentives to increase local firms’ sustainability
Use streamlined regulation to facilitate investment
Invest in infrastructure
Emphasize the regional approach to reduce costs
Seek funding from official development assistance
Ensure sustainability of efforts despite an unpredictable market

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The growing pandemic funding gap

The gap between donor commitments and the funding needed to respond to the pandemic continues to grow. As the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tripled its appeal last week to US$6.7 billion, they admit to only receiving US$1 billion towards its initial request for US$2 billion. That includes a mere $65 million contribution from the U.S. that a senator described as “unconscionable,” while the Washington Post reports the US$3 trillion COVID-19 bill introduced by Democrats this past week contains no funding for international assistance. Germany and France likewise agreed to support a 500 billion Euro aid package to support E.U. countries with recovery from the pandemic.

NGOs such as the International Rescue Committee argue that much of the aid is stuck within multilateral channels, as humanitarian funding to front-line NGOs accounts for only 2% of commitments under the UN Global Humanitarian Response Plan.

The global economy is shrinking, and 130 million people may be pushed into extreme poverty

Global economic output is expected to drop by 3.5% in 2020, and by US$8.5 trillion over the next two years as a result of the pandemic. The UN World Economic Situation and Prospects report warns that an additional 34 million people could fall below the extreme poverty line by the end of this year. The UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs did “not anticipate (the global economy) would dive as quickly as it did” amidst the sharpest economic contraction since the Great Depression. The report projects that by 2030, an estimated 130 million will be pushed into extreme poverty. Africa is expected to absorb 56% of the rise in poverty, in part due to limited economic and social protection measures as well as debt burdens.

In the World Economic Forum’s weforum.org, the Dean of the Wharton Business School projects that COVID-19 would also reverse trends in globalization and urbanization. The resulting compression of the global economy, he predicts, will be further impacted by reduction in international cooperation and increased likelihood of international conflict.

250 million Africans could be infected, with up to 190,000 dead by years’ end

Modelling by the WHO predicts that nearly a quarter of a billion people across 47 African countries will be infected with the Coronavirus, with as many as 190,000 projected mortalities by year’s end, according to a study to be published in BMJ Global Health. While African countries may experience fewer severe cases and deaths per capita due to younger populations and lower obesity rates, health system capacity gaps and disruptions in maternal and child health could result in additional deaths.=

ODI calls for increased solidarity to support developing countries

The Overseas Development Institute estimates that the economic impacts of the pandemic to sub-Saharan Africa remain uncertain but will likely exceed $100 billion. While many countries have imposed stringent measures to contain the spread of the virus, there are immediate and long-term concerns about the lag in economic and social protection measures as governments face major liquidity and fiscal constraints. Since much of the global economic dislocation stems from decisions to protect citizens in wealthier countries, the ODI calls for increased international solidarity to support developing countries. That can include special drawing rights to address capital outflows, moratoria on debt service repayments, development finance to provide liquidity to protect employment, as well as non-concessional lending and economic resource packages as aid.

Rising Inequity Gap

The IMF warns that COVID-19 could widen the inequality gap between rich and poor across and within countries, urging policymakers to put in place risk-sharing and social assistance mechanisms to protect the most vulnerable from economic impacts. Using past pandemics as a guide, the analysis shows net increases in Gini coefficient (a measure of inequity within a country) after five years as well as long-term impacts due to job loss and other shocks to income (e.g. lower remittances). To minimize long-term damage (or “scarring”) to the livelihoods of vulnerable communities – and improve resilience to future shocks (including the effects of climate change), the IMF urges countries to consider a range of measures including:

Access to sick leave, unemployment benefits, and health benefits;
A “New Deal,” particularly in countries where the employment sector is largely informal and where social protection systems are limited; and
Expanding social assistance systems, introducing new transfers, boosting public work programs, and progressive tax measures.

“Nothing lays bare inequality and discrimination like a disaster”

In a forceful address on the human rights dimensions of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction highlighted the disproportionate impact on marginalized and vulnerable populations, amplifying social inequities, forced displacement as well as gender- based violence. The central message was that the international community “must do more.” This includes treating persons at risk as people with human rights and not just as beneficiaries of humanitarian actions, who are consulted in decision-making relevant to their lives, and to foster greater resilience by focusing on the drivers of disaster risk, including poverty, lack of international solidarity and pandemic preparedness, and increasing frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events.

‘Donor states can and must do more’

According to a Devex survey of development professionals, two thirds say donors are not doing enough to respond to the Coronavirus. The UN estimates that US$500 billion will be needed to address the pandemic in developing countries, as Oxfam urged 30 donors of the OECD Development Assistance Committee to contribute $300 billion. In addition to more funding, development experts point to three other steps donors should take:

Simplified funding mechanisms for a faster response;
Clarity and transparency on decisions; and
Looking beyond the immediate needs, including longer-term impacts of COVID-19 and what preparation is needed now to respond to those.

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A new report by the World Bank projects the sharpest historic decline in global remittances could push 40-60 million people into extreme poverty
- The UNHCR warns of the impact of reduced remittances on migrants and vulnerable communities, issuing a new guidance on Cash and Voucher Assistance programs
A UNDP report warns of the alarming increase of gender-based violence due to COVID-19
- COVID-19 Pandemic Could Have Long-Term Consequences On Women’s Health Care Access Globally, Health Workers (UNFPA)
- Care and Connection in Crisis: Feminist Strategy to Confront COVID-19 (Madre)
- Commentary: We need a feminist response to the pandemic (Devex)
Like Zambia, more African countries seek emergency funding from the IMF
A ban on large funerals in South Africa has forced people to give up many traditions, but they have also rediscovered old ones, including “secret burials” (BBC)
By prioritizing Early detection, contact tracing and 28 day quarantines, Kerala’a COVID-19 fatality rate (0.53%) is the lowest in India, and has limited the spread of the virus without inflicting any of the human suffering seen in other parts of the country (Commentary: The Kerala Model (Shashi Tharoor)
In a new commentary, Tony Blair and Agnes Kalibata highlight four global actions to increase food security during the pandemic. These including: (1) Increasing funding for food-relief and social-protection measures; (2) Investing in local agricultural production; (3) Supporting regional and local logistics hubs to limit disruptions to food and agricultural produce supply chains; and (4) Incentivizing funding of agro-processing and Agtech companies.
- DIGHR Fellow Rhonda Ferguson also argues that displacement of local food systems threaten 265 million people with famine, and that transformation in trade is urgently needed (Conversation)
- HIV and Food Insecurity: A Syndemic Amid COVID-19 (AIDS and Behaviour)
- Small-scale farmers can help build resilient food systems in post-COVID world (IFAD)

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A new WHO study projects that up to 190,000 people in Africa could die and an additional 29-44 million could get infected by the Coronavirus in the first year if containment measures fail.
Harvard Professor Joseph Nye – one of the world’s leading scholars on global governance- examines the “abysmal failure of leadership” from the U.S. and China, urging that more global solidarity and recognition of mutual interest is essential to address the pandemic
In collaboration with DIGHR, the Ilisaqsivik Society, and Médecins Sans Frontières (Latin), SeeChange Initiative is launching a Community Roadmap planning tool today to support communities organize, prepare and respond to COVID-19. See:
- CommunityFirst COVID-19 Emergency Readiness Checklist
- What the Covid-19 pandemic is teaching us about community (STAT)
In a commentary, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Kailash Satyarthi, highlights the compassionate work of community and civil-society groups working with vulnerable populations, urging G20 to increase international aid and coordination through UN agencies like WHO, UNICEF and UNOCHA.
A study in Lancet Global Health projects an additional 0.25-1.2 million children under 5 could die indirectly in the next six months as a result of the pandemic though disruption of health systems and decreased access to food. This would be the first increase in global child mortality since World War II. The researchers from Johns Hopkins also estimate that indirect maternal deaths could rise from 8% to 38%.
An analysis by the New York Times reveals spikes in fatalities across Latin America (including Brazil, Ecuador and Peru) that exceed the worst pandemic trajectories in Europe and the U.S. The Brazilian president, when asked about the death toll, replied “So what? What do you want me to do?”.
Amazon indigenous leaders warn of the potentially devastating effects of COVID-19 (New Humanitarian), where “no specific attention has been given to indigenous communities”.In Brazil, the potential effects highlight the lack of government support with food and health services. The former health minister of Ecuador, meanwhile, warns that “everyone is at risk” if marginalized communities are not able to afford basic health services, while officials in Mexico suggest that thousands of deaths are not being reported, obscuring the true toll of the COVID-19 epidemic.
China, South Korea and Japan are experiencing a resurgence in COVID cases, as the WHO and public health experts warn against lifting containment measures too early (CNBC)
- Authorities in Wuhan plan to test all 11 million residents over the next ten days after discovering new infections for the first time since its lockdown was lifted, prioritizing vulnerable groups and high-density areas (BBC)
Exceptionally heavy seasonal rains across East Africa since late April have resulted in widespread floods that caused a heavy loss of life and property, compounding the risks to human health and food security from the COVID-19 pandemic and the most serious desert locust invasion in decades. (WMO)
COVID19 epitomises why a “One Health” approach – which recognises the fundamental interconnectedness of humans, animals, and their shared environment- is key to ensuring the healthy and sustainable future of the planet. coChairs of the Lancet One Health Commission are calling for a COVID-19 One Health Research Coalition (Lancet)

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UNOCHA updated the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan, appealing for US$6.7 billion for immediate support for pandemic response in fragile countries

COVID-19 has “unleashed a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering” around the world, according to the UN Secretary-General (Guardian)

Institute of Migration issue Communication Guidance in response to the rise of anti-migrant sentiment in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic

Local response in health emergencies: key considerations for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in informal urban settlements (Environment and Urbanization)

A new report by Rescue International shows how restrictions on mobility, lack of information, increased isolation and fear have led to a decrease in women being able to report incidents of domestic violence.

COVID-19 on the African continent (The Lancet Infectious Diseases)

IOM Chief of Mission in the DRC reports how the experiences and capacity developed to fighting Ebola have informed the COVID-19 response

Schools remain locked for more than 127 million children in S.E. Africa (UNICEF)

There are reports that some African governments are promoting an unproven herbal remedy called ‘Madagascar Tonic’ despite warnings from health officials (Globe & Mail)

Health system quality in the time of COVID-19 (The Lancet Global Health)

Food insecurity in West Africa could leave 43 million at risk as coronavirus hits (UN News)

UNOCHA issues global attention to food insecurity in humanitarian response locations

A new report by the UNDP reveals major disparities among countries in their ability to respond and recover from the pandemic (COVID-19 and Human Development: Exploring Global Preparedness and Vulnerability)

Collateral damage of lockdown in India (BMJ)

Local response in health emergencies: key considerations for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in informal urban settlements (Environment and Urbanization)

Slums are the next front line in the fight against the coronavirus (Devex)

Mental health and COVID-19: change the conversation (The Lancet)

UNOCHA releases Rapid Learning Review that outlines 14 actions, insights and concepts for humanitarian actors in their COVID-19 responses (ALNAP)

The threat of COVID-19 in Syrian war refugee camps (Travel Medicine & Infectious Disease)

Emerging challenges of securing mental well-being in conflict settings (Asian Journal of Psychiatry)

UNOCHA issues global attention to food insecurity in humanitarian response locations

Human rights approach to Emergency Response? Advocacy of Canada’s Human Rights Commissions During the COVID-19 Crisis (Canadian Journal of Political Science)

Institute of Migration issue Communication Guidance in response to the rise of anti-migrant sentiment in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic

Prisons have become ‘petri dishes,’ as inmates are unable to guard against virus (KHN)

Coronavirus abuse fears for women in South Sudan (New Humanitarian)

UN Women issues a Guidance Document on promoting gender-responsive participation in humanitarian settings (UN Women)

In Haiti, women’s organizations are at the heart of the response to COVID-19 (CECI)

[post_title] => Snapshot of Equity & Protection [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => snapshot-of-equity-protection [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2020-08-13 22:35:42 [post_modified_gmt] => 2020-08-14 02:35:42 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://covid19.dighr.org/developments/snapshot-of-equity-protection/ [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => development [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 12 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 2384 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2020-07-21 11:24:55 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-07-21 15:24:55 [post_content] =>

The World Food Programme has identified 25 ‘hotspots’ where acute hunger is reached devastating levels. Most of the countries stretch between West and East Africa, while vulnerable populations in Latin American and Middle Eastern countries, where the pandemic has exacerbated income losses, disrupted supply chains that contributed to surging food prices. The WFP and FAO previously estimated that food security could increase by 81% this year to almost 270 million people. Every 1% rise in acute hunger also contributes to a 2% increase in refugee outflows, which further threaten vulnerable populations as well as regional stability. The UN released an updated COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan last week, with the $4.9 billion WFP response accounting for nearly half of the sum, and an additional $500 million special provision for the 25 hotspots most at risk of famine.
A new study in PLoS Medicine shows that combining severe and moderate acute malnutrition treatments into a simplified protocol could be as effective as traditional treatment while saving $123 per child. The ‘Combined Protocol for Acute Malnutrition Study’ was conducted by LSHTM, the International Rescue Committee and Action Against Hunger, and found that the combined protocol was 76.3% effective at promoting nutritional recovery, which is slightly better than the 73.5% for standard treatment. With 50 million children currently not receiving malnutrition treatment, the efficacy and cost savings could translate into program expansions, with three million child deaths a year are linked to malnutrition.

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