Abstract
As we all know whole world is suffering from pandemic COVID-19. Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is defined as illness caused by a novel corona virus now called severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2; formerly called 2019-nCoV), which was first identified amid an outbreak of respiratory illness cases in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. Various countries like India, U.S.A, U.K, Brazil, Newzealand, Pakistan, Italy, France and many others suffering from this COVID-19. Current status of world like death rate, active cases, recovered cases. In this research paper I am going to talk about COVID-19 and its emergence in detail. Role of World Health Organization in handling this pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution, which establishes the agency's governing structure and principles, states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health." What other different international organizations like UN Security Council, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, NATO, sICAO, IMAO, NATO, and ILO doing to deal with this pandemic. How much these organizations are dedicated to this. Organizations like International Monetary Fund and World Bank maintaining economy of whole world. International Civil Aviation Organization control on spread of COVID-19.What is the success rate of these organizations in controlling the spread of the pandemic.
Introduction
AS we all know whole World is suffering from COVID-19 pandemic. “The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV 2)”. “Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of sense of smell”. There is no known vaccine for this till date. The outbreak was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and after that in all other countries also. Countries like China, Italy, America, Brazil, and U.S.A suffered most from this pandemic and still suffering. Currently, over eight.66 million cases of COVID-19 are rumored in additional than 188 countries and territories, leading to over 460,000 deaths, over four.24 million individuals have recovered . Due to this pandemic world is facing political, social, economic, medical, cultural, psychological and various other problems. There are different lockdown phases in countries. People are supposed to stay at home. “Stay Home Stay Safe” . It has led to larger global recession. WHO and other international organizations is functioning for handling of this pandemic. Other organizations like UN,UN Security Council ,NATO,IOM,ICAO,WFP,IOL and many others are working to control the pandemic outbreak in world. In this research paper I will discuss in detail about the role of WHO and these international organizations. These organizations are doing certain strategies, planning, preparedness and meetings to overcome this disease. They are continuously giving guidelines to countries.
Role of World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution, which establishes the agency's governing structure and principles, states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health”.
According to WHO official reports, On December 31, 2019, China reported to the WHO a "cluster" of pneumonia cases "of unknown cause" in the city of Wuhan.
On January 1, 2020, WHO activated a crisis group, putting the body "on an emergency footing for dealing with the outbreak.”
On January 4, The WHO on social media reported a cluster of pneumonia cases "with no deaths", in Wuhan. A day later, it published its first "Disease Outbreak News" destined for scientists and public health specialists on the new virus.
According to various news articles, On 5 January 2020, WHO notified the world about "pneumonia of unknown cause" from China and subsequently followed up with investigating the disease.
“On 20 January, WHO confirmed human-to-human transmission of the disease”.
“On 30 January, WHO declared the outbreak as Public Health Emergency of International Concern and warned all countries to prepare”.
On 11 March, WHO said that the outbreak constituted a pandemic” .
The WHO is battling against a breakdown in international cooperation that is far beyond its capacity to control . “Governments have retreated to national policies, and this problem predates this crisis,” said Clare Wenham, the health scholar.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is functioning closely with world specialists, governments and partners to quickly expand knowledge domain on this new virus, to trace the unfold and virulence of the virus, and to produce recommendation to countries and people on measures to shield health and forestall the unfold of this natural event. WHO is working hard since the outbreak of the pandemic. WHO preparing strategies, planning to handle the pandemic .It is giving every possible information to countries about COVID-19. It is working 24/7 hours, providing data, giving advices, supporting countries in dealing with Covid-19 pandemic. It is helping countries continuously. WHO is doing its all possible aspects to help the countries to control the spread of Covid-19.
Since beginning of this disease WHO is providing guidelines “how to deal with the pandemic” to Countries about the corona virus. WHO helped China lot to overcome this pandemic. After the breakdown in China, Italy was the 2nd country to face the pandemic. WHO helped Italy by sending their experts to control the outbreak of COVID-19.It is providing social, economic, medical help to people. It is helping world in by providing necessary equipments, medicines, techniques, precautions ,information to professionals like Doctors, nurses that how to handle this disease. It has given certain guidelines to control the spread of disease like isolation, maintaining 1mt. or 3ft distance, home quarantine, Lockdowns, sanitization, washing hands regularly, wearing masks, use of sanitizers and so on.
WHO is continuously keeping eyes on countries in handling the pandemic and it is continuously in contact with countries via different telecommunication modes. It is providing all essential
l resources necessary to control the outbreak of pandemic. WHO preparedness, readiness and respond towards COVID-19. WHO joined 17 European Countries to work with this disease. WHO is helping in treatment of COVID-19 by testing medicines and allowing their use in treatment of COVID-19 like use of dexamethasone, hydroxychloroquine and so on. It is working on vaccine of COVID-19 along with various countries, Scientific Institutes, hospitals and research centers. WHO will surely make the vaccine to fight against the pandemic . It is also distributing food to people, helping people suffering from hunger.
It issued guidelines to Schools, Colleges, Workplaces and institutions that how to work and what precautions they should take. Lockdowns have been imposed in various countries to control the spread of this according to WHO directions. In many countries there is ease on lockdown like in India, America, New Zealand and certain countries are re-imposing lockdowns like in Beijing because of increase in number of cases. It started certain missions for several countries. “WHO delegated COVID-19 mission to Egypt” . “WHO expert mission to Belarus recommends physical distancing measures as COVID 19 virus transmits in the Community” .
Although WHO is trying hard to control the pandemic but it facing big struggle due to following reasons. According to a published article of The Guardian Newspaper “Attacked by Trump and ignored by many of its most powerful members, the World Health Organization is facing a major crisis – just at the moment we need it most”.
It is attainable to imagine a world within which each nation respects the WHO’s authority, follows its recommendation and lets it coordinate the flow of data, resources and medical instrumentality across national boundaries to areas of greatest would like. But many countries did not followed the WHO guidelines and faced much crisis like U.S.A
It is not simply Trump – even a number of the WHO’s supporters in government, academe and NGOs argue that since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, it's caved in to nationalist bullies, praised Draconian quarantine measures and did not defend the liberal international order of that it's a linchpin. “You’ve got a situation where it looks like WHO doesn’t want to exercise its authority,” said David Fidler, a fellow in global health at the Council on Foreign Relations and a regular consultant to the WHO.
Meanwhile, the WHO is desperately struggling to get its 194 member states to actually follow its guidance. The WHO’s leaders are “very frustrated,” said John MacKenzie, a virologist and adviser on the WHO’s emergency committee. “The messages come out loud and clear, and some disregard the warnings. The US largely did, the UK largely did.”
There is a straight forward reason for this. For all the responsibility unconditional within the UN agency, it's very little power not like international bodies like the planet Trade Organization, the WHO, that may be a specialized body of the UN, has no ability to bind or sanction its members.
After all these crisis WHO is doing its best in handling the pandemic.
Role of UN or UN Security Council
“The United Nations Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, which aims at maintaining international peace and security”. Due to this pandemic there is threat to international peace and security .It has lead to increase in unrest violence which can lead to ability to forget the disease. It has created stress to less developed countries, delay in elections. It has opened window for terrorism as countries are busy in coronavirus. UN is trying to help the women and children who are at high risk and those in need specially supporting fragile health crisis. It is maintaining wage peace, peace, and helping to build a better fortune. It is trying to maintaining international peace. The United Nations is continuing to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people, who are among the most vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Around the world, stay-at-home measures place in situ to cut back the unfold of COVID-19 resulted in girls and ladies being cornered inside, unprotected from violence and abuse. The international organization is functioning with Governments to form the hindrance and redress of violence against them a key a part of their national response plans distinctive solutions area unit rising. In some European countries, pharmacies associated supermarkets became “go-to” places wherever the auditory communication of a code word (“MASK 19”) signals an pressing cry out for facilitate.
But it has not great role as corona virus falls within the concept of global public health while the Security Council’s primary responsibility is dealing with the geo-political security and peace matters .
Role of International Monetary Fund
IMF is an international economic organization which basically helps in maintain financing conditions of member countries. “The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an organization of 189 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world” .
IMF is working 24/7 hrs with assistance to countries and provide resources.IMF is trying to do its best to help the countries financially in this pandemic. It has basically 3 goals this time to protect lives , protect livelihood and prepare for recovery .Special series notes are produced by IMF experts trying to help members and redress economic difficulties of COVID-19 . It is trying to solve the issues via online mode. Conducting meeting with countries time to time and providing ideas to cope up with this pandemic.
It is providing help to countries which are struggling in serving their debts. It has provided immediate debt service relief to 27 countries. IMF has almost provide help to almost 90 countries so far in this emergency situation. Providing digital solutions and direct cash transfer of money. Trying to manage fiscal risks under fiscal stress . It increased capacity to provide concession at financial at zero interest. The IMF has secured $1 trillion in lending capacity serving our members and responding fast to emergency conditions.
Role of World Bank
“The World Bank is an international financial institution .It provides loans and grants to the governments of poorer countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects”. It comprises of two institutions which named as International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Development Association. It is helping economically in this Covid-19 pandemic. It is launching emergency support through operation. The Pandemic Emergency Financial Funding is a financial mechanism of World Bank to provide additional source of financing to poor countries in case of large scale outbreaks. The World Bank declared a first package of up to $14 billion on 3rd March to assist countries to immediately in COVID-19 pandemic.
On 2 April it consented a “first set of emergency support operations for developing countries around the world, using a dedicated, fast-track facility for COVID-19 response. According to World Bank, PEEF has provided UDS 195.84 to 64 low income countries due to Covid-19 and countries do not need to repay funds. These funds can be used for health workers, drugs, medicines, medical equipments, essential life saving goods , minor civil workers , but not limited to them only. World bank announces $12 billion to immediate support to Covid-19.According to fact sheet issued by WBG, Over the next 15 months, it will be providing up to $160 billion in financing help to the health, economic and social shocks countries are facing. This includes over $50 billion of IDA resources given on grant and highly concessional terms.
The WBG has launched its first set of emergency support operations to help, detect, protect save lives and respond to COVI-19 in developing countries. These Projects focus on Preventing and limiting local transmission through laboratory through various methods. Goods& services like masks, gloves and portable ventilators. To expand clinical care facilities, such as inpatient facilities in hospitals and preparing quarantine facilities for coronavirus patients. Focus on coordination for research and response to ease the development of vaccines, therapies, and various others measures. According to” Bretten Woods Observer edition Spring 2020, it is providing help to Agriculture sector in related to concentration of power and climate emergency”. Although WBG is working hard but World Bank innovative health financing Instrument proved to be slow and late.
International Organization for Migration
Migrants suffered more in all conditions whether its outbreak of terrorism or disease. Migrants significantly in lower paid jobs or could also be each additional full of the unfold of COVID-19 in countries already compact and people countries wherever the pandemic is spreading, however migrants conjointly play a vital role within the response to COVID-19 by operating in essential sectors. With increase in border restrictions they're suffering additional drawback. IOM is functioning to assist them by causation them their homes. With the assistance of IOM completely different countries do arrangements to send the migrants at their home. It will arrangements to send folks of one country to a different and one state to a different .
Like in India almost 60 lakhs migrants reached their homes with Shramik trains. Different countries are doing different arrangements using various methods. IOM has repeatedly called on different country governments to make sure that health, hygiene and various other social services are made available to all migrants regardless of their status, caste, religion, race etc.
IOM helped Indonesian refugees to ramps up COVID-19. As Indonesia continues its efforts to solve the issue of COVID-19, IOM has initiated Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) activities with the refugee population in the country, focused on hygiene promotion, social distancing, quarantine life, preventative actions, and community awareness and various other measures on the virus. This has included meetings with migrants, their counseling, posting information in community housing and frequently visited areas.
“IOM has completed COVID-19 prevention socialization sessions in nine cities and 80 accommodations for over 7,800 refugees under our care,” said Louis Hoffmann, IOM Chief of Mission in Indonesia along with local authorities.
IOM has held ongoing consultations and meetings with the National Refugee Task Force and local health departments in recent months to ensure continued access to health services for refugees, including for COVID-19 care and treatment. It is providing help in education together with local authorities via online teaching to migrant children and adults. It is providing quarantine centers for migrants .
On 15 April, IOM launched a USD 499 million COVID-19 Global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) to support vital preparedness, response and recovery activities in over 140 countries. IOM will support countries that may need additional resources financial, technical or operational to prevent the spread of COVI-19 infections. It is assisting health systems so they can have increased capacity to cope with additional requirements in pandemic. The SRP comprises a wide range of activities in all regions of the world includes “emergence of humanitarian needs in new settings, cross-border coordination, setting up or enhancing hand-washing facilities at entry points, monitoring of people’s movements within and across borders; and the dissemination of information on how to stay healthy, specifically targeting migrants, refugees and displaced persons”.
International Civil Aviation Organization
The Council of ICAO is calling on states and financial institutions to examine the best means of supporting airlines, airports, air navigation service providers, manufacturers, without prejudice to fair competition and by ensuring transparency. ICAO issued a state letter that draws attention to new measures targeted at maintain safe aviation operations during the pandemic.
ICAO has been working along with different governments and industry partners such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airports Council International (ACI) to provide airlines airports, and aviation authorities with best practice guidance in the face of this pandemic, as well as appropriate measures that will help to protect the health of travelers and reduce the risk of spread of coronavirus. ICAO is working along with WHO in providing guidance related to travelling in COVID-19.It is working along with International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airport Association Council International to provide aviation authorities and airports with best prices.
It is working towards global harmonization in the airlines sector with respect to managing health risks activated by transferrable diseases. ICAO has developed COVID-19 Recovery Platform to accumulate the forecasts, guidance, tools, and resources which are needed by national regulators pursuing COVID-19 response. It has issued multiple publications requesting UN member states to cling to the recommendations and guidance provided by the WHO, and to enlighten ICAO’s role in providing aviation-related information on coronavirus. ICAO is empowering the foundation of exceptional COVID without 19 Public Health Corridors (PHCs) to address the "broad and shifted" nation to-nation fringe limitations presently set up because of national pandemic measures.
“In an attachment and appendix to its latest bulletin, issued under the authority of ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu, the UN aviation agency underscored to national governments that current disruptions to international air movements have severely disrupted the global aviation network, including the transport of essential items such as medical supplies and food .”
Role of NATO
“The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 North American and European countries.”
NATO, together with other international organizations, is closely monitoring the coronavirus outbreak in World and all NATO Allies are continuously taking preventive measures. NATO supports practical scientific cooperation with Alliances and it’s partners to enhance COVID-19 diagnosis
It launched a practical scientific project which developed new tools for a rapid and accurate “diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection”. This project supports NATO’s efforts to enhance resilience and civil preparedness of Allied and partner nations, and highlights the Alliance’s commitment to further enhance research and development efforts to combat COVID-19. “This SPS project is an excellent example of the research community’s global effort to fight against COVID-19.” said Dr. Antonio Missiroli, (NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges). “This project also stresses the dedication of Allies to support each other, as well as partners, in times of crisis; and while the expected results of this project are extremely relevant to the situation the world currently finds itself in, we look forward to the long-term impact it will have on the international response to naturally occurring and man-made viruses and pathogens,” .
In addition to this innovative project, several other SPS activities are also supporting the development of new technologies and capabilities relevant to the fight against COVID-19. According to news article “NATO Defence Ministers met by secure video conference on Thursday (18 June 2020), to prepare for a possible second wave of the Coronavirus pandemic. They decided on a plan to provide support to Allies and partners, agreed to establish a stockpile of medical equipment and supplies, as well as a new fund to enable Allies to quickly acquire medical supplies and services”.
Role of International Labour Organization
“The International Labour Organization is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice through setting international labour standards”. Due to pandemic there is increase in unemployment rate of countries. Most of people are facing unemployment . They are starving out of hunger. The UN agency and its constituents Governments, employees and employers can play a vital role in combating the eruption, making certain the protection of people and also the property of companies and jobs. It is working for protection of rights of workers. Strenghtening health and safety measures at workplaces. It is working for protecting the rights of laborers in this pandemic.ILO supports Agriculture sector.
Conclusion
“It's the first time the WHO has called an outbreak a pandemic since the H1N1 "swine flu" in 2009”. This pandemic is a big challenge for whole world. World is still struggling with this, it has not ended yet. WHO is making all its efforts to overcome the pandemic. It is trying to make Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible . Other international organizations as I discussed above, all are doing their best to fight with corona virus. Every organization is with different sectors by providing information, giving guidelines and making strategies to overcome the pandemic. Although the progress is slow but they are still working. There are certain reasons behind their negligence like funding problems, and many countries are not cooperating with them. Because of this they are facing certain challenges along with the challenge of pandemic. As cases are increasing so fast , so the growth is slow. But with the efforts of these organizations there is great improvement in every sector. They are helping countries by providing them economic, social, medical help and food facilities etc. International organizations are working to help all the countries without any discrimination. They are doing hard so to make the world free from this COVID-19 pandemic. We should support our Governments, international organizations, and other institutions helping in handling the pandemic. People should stand together and support each other to fight against COVID-19.
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https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
UN Security Council to discuss coronavirus pandemic in closed session on 9 April. (in press). The Print.
IOM Ramps Up Response to Covid-19 Pandemic for Refugees in Indonesia. (2020, April 17). [Press release].https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/pandemics/brief/fact-sheet-pandemic-emergency-financing-facility
Coronavirus response: NATO supports practical scientific cooperation with Allies and partners to enhance COVID-19 diagnosis. (2020, May 5). NATO -OTAN. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_175619.htm
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About Author
I am Preeti Chauhan student of B.A.LL.B (3rdy year) of Delhi metropolitan education.
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