COVID-19 Toll in the Middle East Is High

Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has infected thousands of people in the Middle East. Map from middleeasteye.net, used with permission.

By Ellen Rosser, Middle East Committee member, Barbara Taft, Middle East Committee Co-Chair

May 2020

COVID-19 is infecting the Middle East. Iran is the worst hit, with more than 58,000 cases and more than 3,400 deaths. Since the US sanctions prevent Iran from accessing adequate medical supplies, 34 members of Congress, including Senators Sanders, Warren, and Feinstein, have sent a letter to Trump asking that sanctions be lifted during the course of the pandemic. In addition, several E.U. countries are helping Iran since it was the US, and not Iran, that withdrew from the nuclear agreement.

In other countries in the Middle East, such as Yemen, Syria, Libya, and Iraq, in spite of brief cease-fire agreements as a result of the Secretary General of the UN’s call for a global ceasefire, fighting is still ongoing. In Iraq, the US has reoccupied the country after having refused to leave when asked by the Iraqi government, and has attacked some Shi'ite bases. However, the US remains in Iraq now only in a few bases.  

In Palestine, COVID-19 is active in the West Bank, especially in Ramallah, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem, with many fewer cases in Hebron and elsewhere. Many of the cases are from workers returning from Israel who were not adequately protected from Israelis with the virus, and the workers infected their families. Palestine is worried that when 50,000 workers return from Israel as everything shuts down for Passover, many more infected workers will spread the virus further in the West Bank.

In Gaza, there are twelve cases, six of which have recovered. Two Gazans who traveled to Pakistan first brought the virus to Gaza. Ironically, the blockade may help keep the virus out of Gaza, which is extremely short of medical supplies and lacks clean water and food. In Israel, more than 8,000 cases have been reported and more than 60 deaths, with the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak being worst hit.

There is evidence that the coronavirus has also struck Lebanon, where many refugees have fled and people are living in very close proximity to one another, and that it is also present in refugee camps in Jordan and Greece, among other places.

In the US, 34 Senators have written to Trump asking him to restore the $300 million in aid to UNRWA, an action that would greatly help Palestine, which does not have the medical supplies necessary to confront the coronavirus., although Israel is helping some in the West Bank.  

The Middle East Committee asks that you contact your senators to ask them to support this letter and request that Trump restore this necessary aid. Note that the virus must be eliminated everywhere in order to stop its spread.

For more information, contact Ellen Rosser: ellen.rosser@gmail.com