How Arab Countries in North Africa Are Handling COVID-19 Pandemic?

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How Arab Countries in North Africa Are Handling COVID-19 Pandemic?

posted on: Jul 7, 2020

Noth African Countries

By: Yasmina Hage / Arab America Contributing Writer

In these times of crisis, everyone is trying to make themselves useful. Especially in the North African Countries, which is being talked about a lot on the networks at this time.

This crisis has plunged us into an unknown universe where our only escape is our imagination, our humanism, and our innovations. As such, it is a time that calls for our creative spirit. Ideas and changes are not what will be missing! We are going to discover right away the many ideas that the Arab world has had.

Algeria

Yassir launches an online teleconsultation service to combat the spread of coronavirus.

The VTC Yassir application, in collaboration with “volunteer” drivers, offers a free driving service for doctors, nurses, care assistants, and maintenance workers. The platform has also made available a medical directory for online consultations to “relieve congestion in hospitals and surgeries, which represent a favorable environment for the spread of the virus.” In addition, it also makes deliveries of household shopping and package deliveries weighing no more than 10KG. The goal is to prevent people from having to go out to avoid the risk of being infected or infecting others.

In Oran, charitable organizations, in coordination with the authorities, deliver meals to hospitals. Some volunteers provide gowns, gloves, masks, hydro-alcoholic gels, and cleaning products to hospitals.

Morocco

Morocco Food Bank

In Morocco, for example, there is the Food Bank, which is a non-profit association whose mission is to collect food to distribute it to associations and the most deprived. In front of COVID-19, this association helps the homeless to live confinement in better conditions. To do so, they have provided mattresses, pillows, and food. Moreover, they have distributed food baskets to families affected by job loss.

Webeuz

There is a digital platform in Morocco called “webeuz” which has decided to develop a platform where Moroccans in need can report it to people who are close to them or who can help them. Webeuz, in Morocco, wants to share its expertise and the means at its disposal with the whole community to reduce the deficits caused by the coronavirus.

Tunisia

A robot to monitor the containment

In the face of this crisis, we must be as little exposed as possible and limit our exits. Every person who goes outputs their life and the lives of others in danger. So, a Tunisian start-up had an excellent idea of creating a robot to make sure that everyone on the street has a good reason to be there.

Unfortunately, like many other countries, Tunisia doesn’t have the resources to deal with COVID-19. As a result, the ATUGE (association of Tunisians of the Grandes Ecoles) is calling for help from its diaspora around the world so that Tunisia can cope with this pandemic. The sum collected will be donated to the Ministry of Health in Tunisia so that they can obtain the material necessary to face this crisis.

A Tunisian child is making masks.

In Tunisia, a child makes masks in order to distribute them free of charge to the population. In these times of crisis, everyone’s help is helpful. There’s no age to help. Moreover, this picture shows us that the crisis is awakening the humanitarian side of most people.

Egypt

National Bank of Egypt

In Egypt, the National Bank opens a bank account for donations to fight against coronavirus. They received donations from the citizen, and they give it to support doctors and university hospitals to fight against coronavirus. Also, the National Bank has donated food parcels in cooperation with the Misr al-khair Foundation to support the craftsmen and workers who have to work daily until the end of the epidemic.

Egyptian Food Bank

Because of coronavirus, Some workers who can no longer work, don’t have enough money to feed themselves. Therefore, the EFB (Egypt Food Bank), distributes food aid to them. With the help of 5,000 partner associations, the EFB will distribute 5,000,000 parcels in the 27 governorates of Egypt. However, despite the numerous donations and financial aid given to the EFB, this association is struggling to cover all the requests.

Soudan

Students raising public awareness about coronavirus.

The people living in working-class neighborhoods in Sudan are not aware of what is happening with the coronavirus. Therefore, some young people took the initiative to go to the neighborhood to explain to them how to avoid having this disease. They tell them what the symptoms are so that they know if they have the disease and give them the number to call just in case.

Humanitarian organizations have developed plans to strengthen the knowledge and skills of health workers to respond to the global pandemic. They will also raise community awareness about self-prevention and monitor arrivals at ports of entry in Blue Nile State to help identify and isolate suspected cases.

Libya:

Sanad Al-Warfali.

Libya is a country in a state of war and, therefore, does not have enough resources to fight a coronavirus crisis. To prevent the spread of the virus, the government has stopped all sports activities in the country. As a result, a football player, Sanad Al-Warfali from Libya, sent an awareness message to football fans in Libya and Morocco against the backdrop of the coronavirus outbreak, which has stopped many sports competitions.

Dr. Ibrahim Eldaghayes.

Professor of Virology at the University of Tripoli, Dr. Ibrahim Eldaghayes, is heavily involved in coronavirus awareness campaigns throughout Libya. Dr. Eldaghayes recently presented lectures at the University of Tripoli, the Food and Drug Control Center in Tripoli, and the University of Asmaria in Zliten. He has also been invited by radio stations and short TV interviews for live talks on the novel coronavirus outbreak.