West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | March 2022
HIGHLIGHTS • Political Developments • Economic Developments• Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Regional and Global Issues Impact of Omicron Covid-19: While the Covid-19 Omicron wave seemed to be receding in most of the West Asia North Africa (WANA) region, it continued unabated in some pockets. The WHO reported on Feb 9 that infections and deaths were rising […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | February 2022
HIGHLIGHTS • Political Developments • Economic Developments• Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Regional Issues Impact of Omicron Covid-19: On Jan 25, IMF First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath put the total global economic losses from the pandemic at close to $13.8 trillion through 2024. Many parts of the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region were ravaged […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | January 2022
HIGHLIGHTS • Political Developments • Economic Developments• Bilateral Developments IA) Political Developments: Regional Issues Impact of Omicron Covid-19: As Omicron strain of SARS-Coronavirus knocked on the doors of West Asian states, preventive steps were hurriedly put in place. The first such cases were reported in Saudi Arabia (Dec 1), the UAE (1/12), Kuwait (8/12), Qatar (17/12), Iran (19/12) […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | December 2021
IA) Political Developments: Regional Issues Impact of Omicron Covid-19: Discovery of a new and more virulent strain of the SARS-Coronavirus in South Africa and its designation of Variant of Concern by the WHO on November 26 sent a wave of panic throughout the world, including the WANA region. Apart from the renewed threat of infections, it […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | November 2021
IA) Political Developments: Covid-19 Pandemic Regional Impact of Covid-19: Even as the global death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic crossed the 5 mn mark by the month-end, there were signs of gradual improvement of the situation in the WANA region. While resurgence the pandemic continues to be a threat, higher vaccination and booster doses, herd immunity […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | October 2021
IA) Political Developments: Covid-19 Pandemic Regional Impact of Covid-19: From Pandemic to Endemic? While there was an unmistakable decline in Covid-19 cases and deaths, given previous upturns it was still too early to say if it was the beginning of the end of the pandemic. The 28-day data showed fresh cases and deaths to be down by […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | September 2021
IA) Political Developments: Covid-19 Pandemic Regional Impact of Covid-19: Delta Force Rampages WANA The trend reversal that began in July 2021 continued to worsen. Both the confirmed Covid-19 cases and the deaths rose sharply in August 2021. Thus, the growth in confirmed cases in the region during August rose to 15.05% from 11.64%, 6.48%, 9.5% and 44.1% […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | August 2021
IA) Political Developments: Covid-19 Pandemic Regional Impact of Covid-19: At Sea with Delta Version There was a significant surge in Covid-19 confirmed cases and fatalities in WANA countries during July 2021 reversing the ongoing trend of decline. The growth in confirmed cases in the region during the month rose to 11.64% from 6.48%, 9.5% and 44.1% […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | July 2021
IA) Political Developments: Covid-19 Pandemic Regional Impact of Covid-19: The Pandemic tapers off as vaccinations rise The decline in Covid-19 confirmed cases and the fatalities continued in WANA countries during the month, led by those with high mass vaccination ratios. The growth in confirmed cases declined in the region to 6.48% from 9.5% and 44.1% in […]
West Asia & North Africa Digest by Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev | June 2021
IA) Political Developments: Covid-19 Pandemic Regional Impact of Covid-19: The Pandemic tapers off as vaccinations rise Both incidences of Covid-19 confirmed cases and deaths continued to decline in WANA countries, led particularly by those with high mass vaccination ratios. Thus the growth in confirmed cases declined in the region to 9.5% (from 44.1% in April 2021) and […]