It’s Time for Canada to Invest in a Global Response to COVID-19
As Canada enters the second wave of COVID-19, the coronavirus continues to sweep through the world, widening inequalities and exposing the flaws in our global health, food, and economic systems. Prior to the pandemic, 5 years of armed conflict had left Yemen suffering from what is widely known as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. With over 3 million people displaced by the conflict, and over ten million Yemenis suffering from famine, the situation only stands to get worse with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. Yemen faces a threat on multiple fronts that it cannot win without foreign aid.
Canada is a high-income country existing in a wider, global community that is intrinsically interconnected. Any uncontrolled coronavirus outbreak in lower- and middle-income countries like Yemen could cause a second wave in 2020, leading to more lockdowns and social distancing. A second round of lockdowns around the world in 2020 could lead to approximately a $1.1 trillion loss in output in OECD countries.
Canada must step up as a global leader and invest 1% of its COVID-19 response to the emergency global fund. This investment must be part of a permanent increase in Canadian aid via the Official Development Assistance to help in achieving progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. It is in Canada’s best interest to invest in a global response to the pandemic, but more importantly, we need to ensure that the most vulnerable people on earth have access to the healthcare and services they need to thrive during these unprecedented times.
