HPF Virtual Dialogue "Exploring the risks of Coronavirus for refugees and conflict afflicted states" 27th March 2020

The second Helsinki Policy Forum (HPF) virtual dialogue took place on the 27th of March and focused on the potential risks of the Coronavirus for conflict afflicted states; refugees and other vulnerable communities. Participants included government officials, former ministers and current parliamentarians from Britain, Egypt, Finland, France, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Turkey and the UAE.Over the past decade, the Gulf-MENA region has experienced widespread levels of protracted conflict. As a result, it is widely considered to be the global the epicentre of war and humanitarian crises. Wars have devastated Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen, weakening state capacity. In Yemen and Syria alone it is estimated approximately 35 million people were already in need of urgent humanitarian assistance before the spread of Coronavirus. In this context, there are real fears that if Coronavirus takes hold in these communities, immense suffering would follow. Given the global nature of the crisis, the international community has a vested interest in preventing this by urgently bolstering the capacity of public health systems in the region. A failure to act now, threatens the security of all.The meeting provided an opportunity to unpack these issues in more detail and explore potential recommendations for policymakers. There was universal support for the UN Secretary General's call for a global ceasefire to enable a more effective response to the virus, with participants asking if the common threat posed by Coronavirus might not provide opportunities for diplomacy.The HPF will continue to explore this and other issues related to the Coronavirus in the weeks ahead through the use of virtual workshops.