Covid-19: How are MENA countries dealing with the pandemic?

Team Udayavani, Apr 7, 2020, 11:59 AM IST

The novel coronavirus has put all the activities around the world on hold, various countries are dealing with the virus in their own way but how are the MENA countries dealing with Covid-19?

MENA is an acronym for the Middle East and North Africa region. The region includes around 19 countries. The MENA region accounts for 6% of the world’s population, 60% of the world’s oil reserves, and 45% of the world’s natural gas reserves. Due to the region’s substantial petroleum and natural gas reserves, MENA is an important source of global economic stability.

The region is afflicted by persistent civil war in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen, with the United States and Russia supporting opposing sides and providing military resources.

Various measures have been undertaken to curb the COVID-19 pandemic in many countries of the Middle East.

UAE has taken innovative steps like virtual doctors and sanitizing robots to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus among its seven emirates.

Countries such as Oman, Lebanon, and Iraq, put limits on travel, public events, and non-essential businesses.

Jordan is under a complete lockdown since March 14^th, and in February, Saudi Arabia closed its holy cities of Mecca and Medina to millions of foreign travellers.

Also, Morocco issued pardons for more than 5,000 prisoners to protect the spread of the virus among inmates.

But it is said that despite the spread of Covid-19. The wars have not stopped in Middle east. It is said that regional conflicts are still persistent in Syria, Iraq and Yemen and Libya.