The last decade and the beginning of the 21st century has been marked by the emergence of many diseases and epidemics, caused by unknown viruses such as SARS, swine flu and other epidemics. Some have caused great loss of life and enormous economic losses to economies around the world.
The most recent of these epidemics is the Coronavirus. Recently becoming a global concern, the virus is similar to the SARS virus that spread in 2002, killing approximately 800 people around the world. The Coronavirus, present in several Chinese cities, has spread to some countries through traffic and transportation. The world’s population is at risk as it is estimated that the virus will kill 65 million people during its global spread in the coming period.
And these are not just numbers. Official Chinese statements already indicate the seriousness of the disease. As the The new coronavirus’s ability to transmit infection is increasing and the number of infections may rise, as the Chinese health minister has pointed out.
This has led China to quickly build a large hospital to receive patients with the disease. One of the problems with the new viruses is that they are anonymous and there is little or limited information available about them. This makes it difficult to identify the pathways of their development and the possibility of their alteration. In addition, the world has not yet developed an effective system to deal with these new threats.
Many people have questions about the origin of viruses, whether they have escaped from laboratories in some countries or whether they have been transferred from animals or birds to humans by chance. The role of the World Health Organization and specialized organizations in similar health emergencies is indisputable. But fear and anxiety still reign in the world. Efforts remain within individual frameworks without collective international cooperation to manage and control such crises as they arise.
The list of health threats facing the world’s population is growing. For example, indicators confirm that the victims of air pollution far outnumber the victims of wars, conflicts and military crises.
In this regard, inhaled toxic compounds cause the early death of seven million people in different parts of the world, according to the World Health Organization. While diabetes, cancer and heart disease kill 41 million people each year and constitute about 70% of the causes of death in general.
Coping with the threat of epidemics requires a great deal of effort and energy, especially when there is a rapid epidemiological spread of viruses, as is currently the case with Corona. That is why global solidarity and cooperation are crucial to support countries suffering from the spread of these epidemics.
For this reason, the UAE has announced its willingness to provide any form of support to China to contain the Coronavirus. As confirmed by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, in a tweet, “We follow with interest the efforts of the Chinese government to contain the spread of the Corona virus.”
“We are confident in the ability of friendly China to overcome this crisis,” he said, noting that the UAE is ready to support China in the fight against the virus. He added: “The UAE, as part of its humanitarian approach, stands ready to provide any form of support to China and to cooperate with the international community to fight this virus.”
Such a commitment should prevail in international affairs, especially in times of health crises affecting human life. Resources and capacities must be directed to address any danger or peril that people face, wherever they are. These positions of the Emirates confirm the depth of the friendship between the two countries and peoples. It is also a good example of the initiative to provide emergency support.
Certain threats and exceptional circumstances may require global solidarity. Some of them may exceed the capacities of individual countries, regardless of the extent of their capabilities and their own possibilities. Natural disasters, earthquakes, volcanoes and other crises that place countries and peoples in abnormal conditions call for closer cooperation among countries and communities.
