Arab world’s COVID-19 fight is exemplary

Michael Jansen, Political Correspondent

Despite warfare in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, huge disparities in national and personal incomes, and economic dislocation in the Eastern Arab World, the Arabs seem to be handling the coronavirus better than the global hyperpower, the US. Of course, the response to the virus challenge has been and will be more proactive and successful in some states than others, as it is in the US, but even the wealthiest Arabs do not have the massive resources possessed by the US.

The positive Arab response to the virus is, in part, due to the fact that Arab governments identified the threat from the virus and acted on it more decisively than the Trump administration, which, even now, remains in partial denial. In this region lockdown was ordered and largely implemented country-by-country, governorate-by-governorate, district-by-district, and city-by-city.

The sprawling, transcontinental US has not yet convinced 10 of the 50 states, the majority with Republican governors, to carry out lockdowns and distancing between individuals. Even some which do refuse to halt communal religious services while for example, Saudi Arabia, the Muslim heartland, has not only banned mosque services, halted the inflow of pilgrims for Umra but warned those seeking to take part in the Hajj to hold off making bookings.

Another factor is that, due to war-devastated or non-existent public health systems, the lack of expertise in virus control, limited financial resources, and continuous destructive interference from external powers, notably the US, Arabs are mentally and psychologically equipped to stand up to the virus and insecurity.

Arab governments have invested in their military forces to defend their countries against subversion and attack rather than pandemics. However, when COVID-19 struck, most Arab governments marshalled their resources and generally but sometimes belatedly followed guidelines set by the World Health

Organisation (WHO). The Trump administration did not and a large percentage of US citizens did not demand prompt action.

They have been largely safe for generations thanks to isolation by two vast oceans and are not spiritually and physically prepared for disaster despite the domestic trauma of economic melt-down from time to time. Therefore, when the virus turned up, many, including the current occupant of the White House, Donald Trump lost time by denying it was a threat. Consequently, COVID-19 took hold and spread.

Although repeatedly warned by scientists to investigate and act on earlier coronaviruses and stockpile basic supplies, the US, which has immense resources, was complacent. Washington opted, instead, to feed the bloated military-industrial complex. It must be pointed out that the US sustained only one foreign attack on its territory —  September 11th, 2001 — since the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. Even the latter was not an attack on the trans-continental US but on a distant off-shore island state.  Furthermore, Trump has not used in timely fashion and effectively a defence procurement act adopted during the 1950s to order US multinationals, large national corporations, and even medium-to-small businesses to focus on providing the means to protect against the virus and build ventilators to save lives. With globalisation, the US outsourced production of these strategic items to China, Malaysia, and other Asian countries. But when these countries needed to use these items for their own infected populations, stocks were depleted and other countries, including the Arabs, have competed with the US in obtaining supplies.

This past week Trump, finally, used the 1950’s act to commandeer in transit masks and other essential equipment ordered by European allies from a US offshore company in China. Outraged France, Germany and Canada accused him of acting like a pirate by highjacking items bound for hospitals and police. Trump’s disregard for Canada, in particular,  is counter-productive because they are neighbours and have close ties on many levels.

By contrast, the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar have dispatched medical aid and funds to Iran, which is not an ally but is the regional epicentre of the virus.  

This is not only neighbourly but also in self-defence. If sanctions-crippled and cash-starved Iran does not contain and conquer the virus, it will continue to spread throughout the region.

While hesitation and mismanagement have created confusion on the US national level and red tape has blocked deliveries of key materials to states, cities and hospitals, US individuals and smaller firms have stepped up but they cannot supply enough gowns, gloves, masks, visors, and other items to meet the tremendous demand.

Seeking to contribute to the war against coronavirus, Arab individuals and firms have also taken action by adopting the old adage, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” In Tunisia, the police force deploys robots to patrol the streets to identify violators of the lockdown and night time curfew. Equipped with a cameras and alarm systems, the robots relay identity card numbers of perpetrators and other information to police monitors.

Israeli occupied West Bankers and besieged and blockaded Gazans have been particularly pro-active because they have few options but self-help.

Amjad Zaghir, a shoemaker in al-Khalil (Hebron) in the West Bank took action in early March, two days after Bethlehem was locked down by the virus.

He bought a surgical mask, studied it, and tried to make one on the machine he used in his work. When he found it tore the material. He went to a pharmacist friend for advice.

He suggested where to find the correct fabric and machinery to fold and iron masks. The first day Zaghir made 500, the next 1,00; then he hired 20 workers and now produces 7,000-9,000 a day. He plans to expand to meet high demand. He sells at less than half a dollar, a low price, set by al-Kahlil’s governor.

Zaghir has rented a new workshop and plans to expand if he can obtain more of the correct material.  He has received orders from Jordan and the Gulf and even Canada as well as Israel.

Gaza businessman, Nabil Bawab, chairman of Unipal 2000, which normally makes clothes for sale in Israel has also switched to manufacturing masks and protective suits for medical staff. His goal was to make 25,000 masks per day by the end of last month.

Two engineers in Gaza have invented ventilators for hospitals in the Strip. Issam Khalafafallah and his partner Ismail Abu Sakhaila are making the machines in just five days. Although they do not have all the functions normally found in hospital respirators, these home-made machines will enable critical patients to breathe — which is the aim of the inventors.

Iyad Abu Rezqa, a baker, has created a “corona cake” depicting a woman wearing a blue face mask, to remind fellow Gazans to cover their noses and mouths and keep their distance from each other. Gaza has 12 confirmed virus cases, all in quarantine.

To raise public spirits, Arab television performers have staged skits lampooning the virus and urging people to wash hands and keep their distances.

Iraqis have a song that has gone viral on the web. “Masks, we don’t have them,” complaining over the serious shortage of essential gear. Of course, no one in the world has sufficient masks. We all are in the same foundering boat.