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we want to have a discussion about the social effects of emergencies.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergencies that have recently taken place all over the world, many people have experienced devastating health, social and economic consequences. Social consequences of such emergencies have left certain groups disproportionately affected by emergencies, including people of lower socioeconomic status, people of colour, and communities experiencing marginalization.
As can be seen through North American COVID-19 data, those living in low-income communities and people of colour are more likely to be affected by the virus. Similarly, we’ve seen that the pandemic combined with other emergencies has led to increasingly significant consequences such as in Yemen, where citizens are facing one of the largest humanitarian crises ever.
In this space, we want to talk about how emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, disproportionately affect some more than others. In what ways do emergencies have social effects? How do we become aware of and address inequities in rebuilding post-COVID-19? And how do we move forward to build a better, more equitable, and just world?

Leave us your thoughts below. We can’t wait to chat.

here are some resources that we and others have found useful throughout this conversation:

Government Of Canada: Emergency Response

Ottawa Public Health: Societal Impacts of COVID-19

World Health Organization: Mental Health in Emergencies

This is a moderated discussion space. We will take every measure to make sure that we are working to create an inclusive space of inclusion. In this affirmation, we are still learning. Should you have any concerns with a post, please email communications.idw@aedsa.ca.

discussion box

Humanitarian Crisis’s Intensified by Global Pandemic: The already existing humanitarian crisis’s which face our globe today has been intensified by the global pandemic. COVID-19 has exacerbated the inequalities faced by individuals and families in humanitarian crises. With national governments looking to their own countries and prioritizing their citizens, people in need of humanitarian assistance outside of their nations have been neglected. As the COVID-19 pandemic has spread, governments worldwide have introduced travel restrictions, which has caused a halt in aid workers from traveling which has hindered humanitarian responses. Furthermore, in some cases, aid workers already in-country cannot deliver vital services because of government restrictions aimed at protecting their citizens. In some countries across the globe, asylum seekers and migrants are still under strict lockdown regulations, limiting their access to basic services. Globally, the risk of starvation in refugee camps and detention centers comes from a lack of access to aid which currently constitutes a bigger threat than the virus itself, according to Amnesty International. An interruption of aid means even less access to soap and water, which is imperative for sanitization purposes in controlling the spread of COVID-19. Other interventions like physical distancing and avoiding crowds and indoor spaces are unrealistic in many humanitarian settings. Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh, for example, has a population density of 40 000 people per km2, which is 40 times more than the country as a whole, and isolating confirmed cases in such areas is extremely difficult under these circumstances. We will see a shift in the world of humanitarian assistance as signs of change. In the short term, this pandemic is expected to threaten many programs and the survival of many non-profits, ultimately impacting humanitarian crises across the globe as a whole. According to a survey, 86% of United Kingdom charities are cutting back or considering cutting back overseas programs. The most obvious example of this so far is Oxfam International’s decision to lay off 1,450 of its staff and withdraw from 18 countries in the wake of the financial pressures of the pandemic. As international aid workers returned home to deal with crises in their own countries, aid agencies removed staff from high-risk environments out of a duty of care, and restrictions on movement challenged international aid in many places. It seems likely that the localization aid delivery would become the biggest change this pandemic would produce in the sector. Therefore, the traditional model of humanitarian operations, as researchers at the Center for Global Development have noted, is challenged “when travel is widely restricted, and the crisis is hitting every country simultaneously.” In hopes of change, author Schenkenberg wrote, “this pandemic, and in particular, the related travel ban will be used as evidence that the notion of ‘overseas aid’ is increasingly outdated, inefficient, and ineffective, if not unethical.” It is important to note that the world of humanitarian assistance has not only been negatively impacted through the global pandemic travel restrictions but also certain groups have faced heightened vulnerabilities in the COVID-19 context. The risk of domestic violence for women and girls in lockdown situations has grown and displaced women and girls may be at increased risk of sexual exploitation and early marriage. Only a small amount of humanitarian funding approximately US$44 million reported for the COVID-19 emergency as of August 17th, 2020 specifically targeting gender-based violence. Furthermore, many other acute and protracted humanitarian crises are exacerbated by the pandemic. For example, after more than five years of civil war and foreign intervention, some 80% of Yemen’s population relies on humanitarian assistance, including 12.3 million children. It is estimated that only half of the country’s health facilities are fully functioning. Already dealing with suspected cholera cases in 22 of its 23 governorates, Yemen declared its first case of COVID-19 on April 10th, 2020. The impact COVID-19 has had on humanitarian crises and the abilities in acquiring humanitarian assistance have been detrimental. This global pandemic has intensified the world humanitarian crisis’s by but not limited to the travel ban, inabilities to import/export supplies and its impacts on overcrowded and vulnerable areas. Women’s and children’s safety and livelihood have been further impacted through this pandemic. This pandemic will change the world of humanitarian assistance forevermore as a shift in assistance must adjust with the current times. Message for references. I'd really love to hear any thoughts or feedback on this post. Best, Karina

- Karina nassar

These are some good points, Karina! I think as COVID hit, many of us became so preoccupied with what was happening within our own borders that we often forget there are still massive humanitarian crises happening around the world. It will be interesting to see how humanitarian aid adapts in the coming months, especially now that vaccinations have started.

-IDW 2021

Hi Karina, echoing what others have said above, awesome job on this post! I fully agree that the most vulnerable have faced and will continue to face the worst impacts of COVID-19. We see this across those oppressed with class, race, gender, ability, and many other forms. I was particularly interested in your evidence on the issue of domestic violence in COVID-19, it's an important part to consider and an issue that is exacerbated around the world for many women and girls.

-Rebecca judd

Really well said. I think Karina makes a solid point that we need to start thinking about the ways we provide humanitarian assistance. This is not the first, nor will it be the last time a global crisis affects the most vulnerable. So many things have been forever changed by this pandemic. Hopefully, we can make changes for the better when it comes to humanitarian assistance as well. Good job on this, Karina.

- Karen Mendoza

Very true Karina! It’s important to recognize how during a crisis like this, the more vulnerable are hit so much harder than those with more privilege. These experiences can be learned from and improved; we should not consider struggling responses inevitable. We must find ways to prioritize those most in need and ways to ensure that help goes where it is supposed to.