CARE’s analysis of INFORM Global Risk Index data has found that the world’s ‘highest risk’ countries have three times higher exposure to epidemics, such as COVID-19, but also have a six times higher risk in terms of their access to healthcare compared to the world’s lowest risk countries. Somalia, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Chad, Syria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Sudan, Niger, Haiti and Uganda are all considered ‘Very High Risk’ by INFORM and are amongst the countries with the weakest capacity to cope with the added stress of a pandemic such as COVID-19.
“While even wealthy and better prepared nations are struggling to cope at this time, the impact on the countries highlighted in this analysis shows how people living in insecure environments, with extremely weak health infrastructure, are going to be far worse off. Countries such as South Sudan and Syria are in the midst of conflict. Many countries on this list are already food insecure, with large parts of their populations reliant on international aid for survival. Add on COVID-19 and it is not only national health systems that will struggle to cope, but the entire infrastructure and basic services. This is a truly terrifying thought for all of us working in the humanitarian sector,” says Sally Austin, CARE International’s Head of Emergency Operations.
As Tue Jakobsen CARE Turkey’s, Assistant Country Director – Humanitarian notes “in Northwest Syria, there is no functioning government and the health system has been destroyed over the past nine years. Hundreds of thousands of people are not able to do basic preventative measure, such as wash their hands. With no testing capacity, it is highly likely that the virus has been spreading around without our knowledge, so we might be weeks behind in our response. An outbreak will cause mayhem in an area that has already gone through so much suffering. We are currently at a stage where only around 900 testing kits have been made available this week in Idlib and there is only one lab that can that can handle about 20 tests per day. Since this is a global crisis, countries are prioritizing their own responses and Syria has been completely neglected. There is an urgent need to scale up the health response and increase health supplies going into Northwest Syria.”
On top of poor access to healthcare these countries also face the highest levels of food insecurity, displacement and socio-economic inequality. All of which increase they vulnerability to COVID-19 and the likely levels of devastation the virus will have in a given country.
CARE’s analysis found that in comparison to the 36 ‘very low risk’ countries, including Norway, UK and New Zealand, the 14 most vulnerable and ‘very high risk’ countries are at over 4 times (336%) higher risk of food insecurity, almost 9 times (756%) higher risk of socioeconomic vulnerability, and over three times more likely to be providing refuge for displaced and uprooted people (210% greater risk level)
“This data shows a stark and chilling picture of what we can expect as we start to see the COVID-19 pandemic spread to many Asian, Africa and Middle Eastern countries. In order to try and best prepare, at CARE, where possible, we are scaling up our activities to ensure that clear guidance on risk, prevention and awareness of symptoms are available in the communities where we work. We are scaling up water supply activities to facilitate good personal and household hygiene,” Austin said.
“But this alone is clearly not enough. We need strong commitments from all national Governments to immediately respect the global cease fire called for by the UN Secretary General earlier this week and we need to ensure humanitarians are seen as essential workers and supported to have unimpeded access to continue to deliver lifesaving assistance to already highly vulnerable communities. We also call on all major donors to show solidarity and contribute to the global appeal that was launched on 25th March,” says Austin.
Austin adds “if coronavirus has shown us one thing it is that we are all in this together. The sense of community this pandemic has created is truly heart-warming. We are asking people to go one step further and not just care for their local communities, but also to think about their global community, and those likely to be affected even worse.”
Vulnerable countries face 3 times the risk of COVID-19 exposure, yet have 6 times lower access to healthcare services
Korean companies donated medical masks
On April 3, the Korean Business Association and a Korean NGO, Good Neighbors, distributed a total of 40,000 medical masks to the federal government including the office of the Prime Minister, Airports, Office of the Addis Ababa City Administration and Regional governments. It is expected that the masks distributed to Addis Ababa and regional governments will be effectively delivered to workforces who are directly fighting against COVID-19 in Ethiopia.
In addition, Supporter’s Association for Korean War Veterans will donate masks to 138 elderly Korean War veterans and their families.
Taking this donation as a momentum, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ethiopia said that Korea appreciates the partnership which Ethiopia showed as the only country in Africa that dispatched a ground troop to the Korean War. It was also mentioned that both countries have been currently in a joint effort to fight the new enemy, COVID-19, to emerge victorious. It was also added that in order to prevail over COVID-19, it is required to have global alliance at an unprecedented level to coordinate activities and the Republic of Korea will be ready to share all relevant information and experiences with international partners.
The Embassy is also planning to provide Ethiopia with customized assistances including the provision of testing kits and quarantine equipment.
New directive clears way for e-payment
The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) issued a directive for the establishment of alternative financial firm that paves the way for e-payment system.
The directive “Licensing and Authorization of Payment Instrument Issuers Directive” that has become effective as of April 1, allow Ethiopians including the diaspora to establish ‘payment instrument issuers’ at a paid up capital of 50 million birr.
The directive article 3 sub articles B. 7 stated that a minimum paid up capital of 50,000,000 birr shall be contributed in cash and the amount shall be deposited in a blocked account with a bank in the name of the applicant payment instrument issuer.
The same article sub article B. 8 of the directive stated the maximum share an individual shall own on the payment instrument issuer company.
It stated that no person, other than the government, may hold more than 20 percent of the shares of a licensed payment instrument issuer, and B .9 of the same article also added that a company other than a government enterprise shall have a minimum of 10 shareholders.
The services that the new upcoming financial firms may undertake are cash-in and cash-out, local money transfers including domestic remittances, load to card or bank account, transfer to card or bank account. They will also be allowed to provide services like domestic payments including purchase from physical merchants, bill payments; over-the-counter transactions; and inward international remittances, according to the directive.
Based on written approval of the National Bank, a licensed payment instrument issuer under full responsibility of and written outsourcing agreement with a regulated financial institution and pension funds, may be allowed to provide micro-saving products, micro-credit products, micro-insurance products or pension products.
The directive indicated that to ensure maximum protection on transactions related to electronic account, all transactions shall have single factor authentication, like user created personal identification number; and two-factor authentication shall be applied for transaction amounts greater than 1,000 birr.
Regarding the payment the directive indicated that a payment instrument issuer shall put in place systems and procedures to keep and identify at least three categories upon opening of an electronic money account.

Level 1 account shall be subject to a maximum account balance of 5,000 birr, an aggregate daily transaction limit of 1,000 birr and an aggregate monthly transaction limit of 10,000 birr.
For level 2 accounts shall be subject to a maximum account balance of 20,000 birr, an aggregate daily transaction limit of 5,000 birr and an aggregate monthly transaction limit of 40,000 birr.
The level 3 accounts shall be subject to a maximum account balance of 30,000 birr, an aggregate daily transaction limit of Ethiopian Birr 8,000 and an aggregate monthly transaction limit of 60,000 birr.
It added that the walk-in users shall be subject to a single maximum daily transaction limit of 500 birr.
An electronic account belonging to an agent shall have no amount limit for transactions made in relation to users.
According to the directive a licensed payment instrument issuer shall keep the total amount of electronic money float in the form of cash deposited in a bank and/or invest in any other safe government security as prescribed by the National Bank.
Besides that upon the request and written approval of the National Bank, a licensed payment instrument issuer shall open an electronic money float cash deposit account with a bank.
On the license application process the directive mentioned that applicants should come up with comprehensive document, which demonstrates applicant’s ability to manage the system and allocate required resources including analysis on gaps identified between the domestic and global payment instruments market, business plan at least for five years, and features and value proposition of the payment instrument to be issued, products and services, and organizational structure and responsibilities of the board of directors and the management with respect to the payment instrument to be issued.
The directive has also added that if applicants get green light, a pilot period will be implemented since the operation is new for the country.
The directive further stated that the National Bank, based on the proposal of the applicant may authorize a pilot period for the maximum of three month duration that might be extended for one more month as per the request of the applicant.
According to article 22 of Payment Instrument Issuers directive, an authorized or licensed applicant shall commence operation within six months after the date of authorization or license is made.
The directive has also added the qualification for board of directors with at least first degree and a minimum age 30 years.
Appointment of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Senior Executive Officers should be approved by NBE, which is common on other financial sectors, while the directive added that the CEO should have a minimum of ten years work experience in finance and payment areas and of which, five years shall be in senior executive position.
According to the statement of NBE the directive, signed by Yinager Dessie, the Governor of NBE, gives prominence to innovative payment instruments believing that they are important to increase the use of financial services.