States in crisis: Lebanon, Myanmar and Iraq
Lebanon’s president, Michel Aoun, asked the world to help his country rebuild the port in Beirut after the August explosion. “There is a great need for the international community to support the reconstruction of destroyed neighborhoods and facilities,” he said. Lebanon is facing an economic and political crisis. The Lebanese pound lost 80% of its value since last October, poverty, and unemployment are on the rise while political factions face troubles forming the government. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Lebanon for settling the impasse in politics and application of the necessary reforms.
November’s Myanmar elections could fail to meet international standards, according to UN humans rights investigator, Thomas Andrews, and the rights groups. Tens or even hundreds of thousands of people from Rohingya and other minorities are denied the right to vote on the grounds of their ethnicity, race, or religion. The access to information is limited due to the restricted internet and coronavirus lockdown. Over 730 000 Rohingya ran away from the country in 2017 after repressions initiated by the military which was led with “genocidal intent”, according to the UN.
The pandemic, the revival of ISIS, the struggling economy, and political crisis are among many problems of Iraq. The official number of death and infected stands at 8000 and 300 000 accordingly, but it seems to be the lesser of the troubles for Iraqis. The health system was wrecked even before the pandemic, and now the economy follows as crucial for the country oil revenue is in decline. That adds up to the political crisis that started at least last October when mostly Shiites went out to the streets to protest against the Shia government as people were tired of a corrupted and ineffective system. It left hundreds of demonstrators killed and thousands injured by the security forces. The country remains entangled in the US-Iran conflict, and its prime minister fails to deliver on his promises of reforms. Meanwhile, ISIS is slowly reviving in rural areas in provinces north and west of Baghdad – not as a meaningful force yet.
