Economic sanctions should be lifted to prevent hunger crises in countries hit by COVID-19 – UN rights expert
WFP/Beyaz The UN World Food Programme (WFP) and partners are working around the clock to provide food to displaced families in northwest Syria. 31 March 2020 Human Rights As the world exhibits new bonds of solidarity in response to the coronavirus pandemic, it is a matter of “humanitarian and practical urgency to lift unilateral economic sanctions immediately,” to prevent hunger crises in pandemic-hit countries, a UN human rights expert, said on Tuesday. The continued imposition of such measures on Syria, Venezuela, Iran, Cuba and Zimbabwe in particular, severely undermines the fundamental right to sufficient and adequate food,Hilal Elver, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food , stressed. History has shown that unilateral economic sanctions generally have dramatic and detrimental impacts on economic, social and cultural rights, she recalled. “As a result, the wellbeing of the civilian populations becomes severely compromised.” Coronavirus Portal & News Updates