The Impact of COVID-19 on the Arab Region

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has exposed serious fault lines and vulnerabilities in societies, institutions and economies all around the world. The Arab region, home to 436 million people, initially kept transmission and mortality rates lower than the global average but more recent trends are cause for concern, especially in light of fragmented health care and insufficient primary care in many countries. The pandemic has also magnified many decades-long challenges. These include violence and conflict; inequalities; unemployment; poverty; inadequate social safety nets; human rights concerns; insufficiently responsive institutions and governance systems; and an economic model that has not yet met the aspirations of all. The response to the COVID-19 crisis can also be used to address some of the long-standing structural weaknesses in the region, notably to build back better in line with the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development through stronger support to local authorities, while strengthening democracy, safeguarding human rights, and achieving and sustaining peace.