UN Experts: Sanctions proving deadly during Covid-19 pandemic, humanitarian exemptions not working
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard
SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2022
SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2022
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Splash
  • Features
  • Videos
  • Long Read
  • Games
  • Epaper
  • More
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Subscribe
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
UN Experts: Sanctions proving deadly during Covid-19 pandemic, humanitarian exemptions not working

Coronavirus chronicle

TBS Report
08 August, 2020, 09:10 pm
Last modified: 08 August, 2020, 09:26 pm

Related News

  • Western sanctions block $16-$18b worth of Belarusian exports to EU, US
  • Taiwan hopes world would sanction China if it invades
  • Japan PM, Zuckerberg, Kamala Harris: List of leaders targeted by Russian sanctions
  • UN chief hopes for more 'humanitarian pauses' in Ukraine
  • Putin puts West on notice: Moscow can terminate exports and deals

UN Experts: Sanctions proving deadly during Covid-19 pandemic, humanitarian exemptions not working

The UN experts said, "We renew our call for sanctioning countries to urgently lift, suspend or minimize their sanctions so that medicine, medical equipment, food and fuel can get through,"

TBS Report
08 August, 2020, 09:10 pm
Last modified: 08 August, 2020, 09:26 pm
A Kenyan Health Ministry official sprays disinfectant onto a hand-cart to control the spread of the new coronavirus, in the Gikomba outdoor street market in the capital Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: AP via UNB
A Kenyan Health Ministry official sprays disinfectant onto a hand-cart to control the spread of the new coronavirus, in the Gikomba outdoor street market in the capital Nairobi, Kenya. Photo: AP via UNB

United Nations (UN) human rights experts on Saturday said that people in countries under sanctions cannot protect themselves against Covid-19 or get life-saving treatment if they fall ill because humanitarian exemptions to the sanctions are not working.

The experts made the statement in a news release issued by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday

The UN experts said, "We renew our call for sanctioning countries to urgently lift, suspend or minimize their sanctions so that medicine, medical equipment, food and fuel can get through,"

They welcomed efforts by many states, intergovernmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations to try to help sanctioned countries fight Covid-19.

"We particularly welcome the willingness of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Russia, China, the United States and other donors to ship much needed medical supplies," said the experts. 

Special rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights at the UN, Alena Douhan said, "Sanctions are bringing suffering and death in countries like Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen,"

"Sanctions should be lifted – or at a minimum eased – so people can get basics like soap and disinfectants to stay healthy, and so that hospitals can get ventilators and other equipment to keep people alive," added Alena.

Nothing has improved, she said, since she called in April for lifting of all unilateral sanctions that prevent sanctioned states from adequately fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, or since the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies made a similar appeal.

"Sanctions that were imposed in the name of delivering human rights are in fact killing people and depriving them of fundamental rights, including the rights to health, to food and to life itself," said Douhan and other UN experts. Water, soap, and electricity needed by hospitals, fuel for delivering vital goods, and food are all in short supply because of the sanctions.

However, in place of time-consuming and often costly procedures for getting humanitarian exemptions to sanctions, the UN experts said exemptions should be granted on the presumption that the stated purpose is actually humanitarian, with a burden of proof on others to show it is not.

"To guarantee human rights and solidarity in the course of the pandemic, licenses for delivery of humanitarian aid should be provided in the easiest way – preferably automatically upon request," said Douhan  

"Individuals and humanitarian organizations involved in the delivery of such aid should in no way be subjected to secondary sanctions," she added.

Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world.

Special Procedures' experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

Top News

United Nations / United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights / Coronavirus Pandemic / sanctions

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Central bankers’ refusal to embark into ‘hard helicopter money’ experiment have been a good idea. Photo: Reuters
    Interbank exchange rate for dollar set at Tk89
  • A Regio regional passenger train operated by Deutsche Bahn AG travels on a bridge in Berlin. Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg
    Why Germany is offering a summer of cheap trains
  • Patients opting to delay crucial treatment amid rising costs
    Patients opting to delay crucial treatment amid rising costs

MOST VIEWED

  • A woman wearing a face mask crosses a road at the Central Business District (CBD), amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak in Beijing, China May 10, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
    Shanghai to lift 'unreasonable' curbs on firms, Beijing eases restrictions
  • Photo: Collected
    US doctors reconsider Pfizer's Paxlovid for lower-risk Covid patients
  • People wearing protective face masks walk on a street, following new cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), in Shanghai, China August 25, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song
    'Tomorrow will be better': Shanghai inches towards Covid re-opening
  • North Korea says new fever cases under 100,000 as virus fight heats up
    North Korea says new fever cases under 100,000 as virus fight heats up
  • People in protective suits cross a street during lockdown, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Shanghai, China, May 26, 2022. REUTERS/Aly Song
    Shanghai heading out of lockdown but China still lost in economic gloom
  • A woman wearing a face mask crosses a road at the Central Business District (CBD), amid the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak in Beijing, China May 10, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
    Tightening Covid net, Beijing deals out punishments, stark warnings

Related News

  • Western sanctions block $16-$18b worth of Belarusian exports to EU, US
  • Taiwan hopes world would sanction China if it invades
  • Japan PM, Zuckerberg, Kamala Harris: List of leaders targeted by Russian sanctions
  • UN chief hopes for more 'humanitarian pauses' in Ukraine
  • Putin puts West on notice: Moscow can terminate exports and deals

Features

Central bankers’ refusal to embark into ‘hard helicopter money’ experiment have been a good idea. Photo: Reuters

Venice has a 400-year-old Covid monetary lesson

2h | Panorama
Aiman R Khan. Illustration: TBS

Why ‘marry your rapist’ court orders are not always what they seem

5h | Thoughts
Photo: Collected

Top 3 The Ordinary products that give extraordinary results

7h | Mode
Photo: Courtesy

KVN Beauty: Channel your inner Bangalee baddie

7h | Mode

More Videos from TBS

Paper industry worth thousands of crores in Bogura

Paper industry worth thousands of crores in Bogura

2h | Videos
Photo: TBS

Tips to help you become a successful lawyer

8h | Videos
Photo: TBS

Harassment over 'indecent clothing': Women gather at Narsingdi railway station to protest, show solidarity

8h | Videos
People bid adieu to Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury

People bid adieu to Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury

8h | Videos

Most Read

1
Bangladesh Bank GM, DGM’s designation changed
Banking

Bangladesh Bank GM, DGM’s designation changed

2
Corporates go cashless…tax cut on cards
NBR

Corporates go cashless…tax cut on cards

3
Photo: Courtesy
Panorama

Misfit Technologies: A Singaporean startup rooted firmly in Bangladesh

4
British International Investment (BII) CEO Nick O’Donohoe. Illustration: TBS
Economy

BII to invest $450m in Bangladesh in 5 years

5
Representational image. Picture: Pixabay
Economy

Govt raises regulatory duty to discourage imports of 130 products

6
Photo: Collected
Industry

Spanish recycled cotton producer opens new facility in Bangladesh

The Business Standard
Top
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • About Us
  • Bangladesh
  • International
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Economy
  • Sitemap
  • RSS

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net

Copyright © 2022 THE BUSINESS STANDARD All rights reserved. Technical Partner: RSI Lab