COVID-19 Response - Response in Conflict Affected Areas

This COVID-19 Coordination Call, part of a weekly series organised by CORE Group (see Related Summaries, below), highlights some of the specific challenges in conflict zones during the initial phases of the pandemic and explores how CORE Group partners are creatively coping with these challenges.

As stated in the webinar invitation, "As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to circle the globe, organizations currently working in emergency response in conflict areas are being faced with mounting challenges and pressures. As many of these pressures existed prior to the advent of the pandemic, efforts to support communities are further being eroded by the pandemic. Of particular concern is access to limited and diminishing resources, especially for women, children and the most vulnerable in these areas. Yet, the pandemic also provides an opportunity to advance peace efforts in some areas."

Presentations for this coordination call, which was moderated by Julie Dargis, Senior Advisor, Global COVID-19 Response, CORE Group, included:

1. Presentation: Challenges of Conflict-Affected Communities during the Initial Phase of the COVID-19 Response - The Case of Youth-led Response in the Far North, North West and South West Regions of Cameroon
By: Achaleke Christian Leke, Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network
Summary: This presentation focuses on youth-led efforts that blend peacebuilding strategies and youth-led peace architectures to promote resilience and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in conflict-affected areas of Cameroon. Leke describes the key strategies being used by youth, which include: mobilising young people; using existing peacebuilding strategies and structures as entry points into communities; implementing face-to-face and online communication methods to sensitise communities; facilitating youth-led production and free donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) in communities; collecting data on community perceptions on the pandemic; and countering misinformation, fake news, and hate speech by setting up a call centre with counsellors and distributing stickers and communication materials that combine messages of peace and messages about COVID-19. Leke makes the point that the drivers of conflict, such as poverty and lack of schooling, are being exacerbated by the pandemic - these situations (which include increasing numbers of out-of-school youth) are, for example, being used as opportunities to radicalise and create deeper divisions. However, he also points to the fact that the pandemic could be used as an opportunity to down arms and work together to solve a common problem.

2. Presentation: Gender and COVID-19 in the Swahili Coast
By: Judy Kimano, Swahili Coast Director of Search for Common Ground (SFCG)
Summary: Judy Kimano's presentation looks at how SFCG is facilitating collaboration with a multitude of partners across dividing lines and manifesting conflict-sensitive responses from the Swahili Coast and up into Somalia. She highlights some of the issues that have been aggravated by the COVID-19 response. For example, COVID-19 relief efforts have revealed partisan interests leading to more divided communities; the pandemic has led to decreased development and support services as staff have been withdrawn from communities in support of the COVID-19 response; trust between citizens and security actors is being eroded due to heavy-handed pandemic management tactics; and terrorist groups are exploiting community grievances to gain support. The presentation also looks at how women are often being negatively affected by COVID-19 response efforts and how SFCG is seeking to ensure their needs and situations are being addressed. For example, as women are often left out of public information campaigns, SFCG is ensuring that radio programming is being broadcast at times appropriate to women. In order to overcome community distrust, especially amongst women, SFCG is mobilising networks of local women to deliver messages. The presentation concludes with a list of recommendations to address gender inequalities in the COVID-19 response.

3. Presentation: COVID-19 Response in Conflict-Affected Areas
By: Dr. Kassam Ballout, Whole of Syria Health Specialist, and Alia M., Whole of Syria Human Resources Manager, Relief International (RI)
Summary: This presentation contextualises some of the challenges in mounting a Whole of Syria Response, which includes shortages of PPE, strict regulations by donors, imposed movement restrictions, security risk for health personnel, limited health facilities (as many have been destroyed), and limited health workers in a situation where regular health services need to be kept going. The presentation also looks at how RI has tried to mitigate against some of the restrictions imposed by COVID-19, with a particular emphasis on ensuring the wellbeing of staff members and community partners. For example, RI updated the Duty of Care to extend sick leave for staff members required in the case of suspected or positive cases of COVID-19 and also made provisions to accommodate staff, such as community health workers, who could no longer work due to movement restrictions. They also introduced a range of measures to ensure staff mental wellbeing, including training supervisors to screen for and spot stress among staff members and providing psychoeducational sessions for staff.

4. Presentation: Disruptions in Humanitarian Health Programs
By: Mike Obrien, Health Advisor Crisis Response Team at FHI360
Summary: This presentation outlines the proactive responses to the complications that COVID-19 is having on Ebola operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the health response in Yemen. Obrien explains the key issues that are being seen by FHI360 in Yemen, which reflect very much what other presentations have highlighted: priority being given to staff welfare, delayed clearances of imported goods and restricted movement as a challenge, and staff having to adapt their way of working. In the current context, the work of FHI360 focuses on: maintaining essential health services; scaling up surveillance, not just for COVID-19 but for other health issues, such as nutrition, as well; and reassuring healthcare staff who are at the frontline of the epidemic. Issues they are looking out for are: increased hostilities; increased inequalities (so they can ensure they always reach the most needy); and distrust in government (so they can ensure they work to build the legitimacy of the state instead of undermining the government). Obrief reiterates previous points made by speakers that COVID-19 provides an opportunity for people to come together, but also for increasing hostilities.

On February 6 2020, CORE Group began a series of weekly calls (see Related Summaries, below) to convene members and partners to discuss their institutional positions around a range of topics related to COVID-19 in an effort to coordinate and support the global pandemic response. During each call, people who signed up for the discussion have the opportunity to ask questions and give input, and these discussions are also included in the recording. To receive updates and coordination call announcements, subscribe to CORE Group's One Health Interest Group listserv or email the listserv using: onehealth@lists.coregroup.org.