Nepal, alarm for the peak of infections There is a risk of a worse crisis than India- Corriere.it

by time news

Nepal is grappling with an explosion of infections from Covid-19 and a similar catastrophe, if not worse than the one in India, is feared. The small Asian country, where just over 28 million inhabitants live, recorded 6 Mayor 9,070 almost, compared to one hundred a month ago, and 54 dead but the increase in cases has been inexorable since the beginning of the month and, yesterday, for the third consecutive day, the number of deaths exceeded 50. Record numbers for a country that, since the beginning of the pandemic, has recorded almost 360 thousand infections and 3,475 deaths. There are now about 20 infections a day for every 100 thousand people, that is the same percentage as India two weeks ago, when the situation in the Asian giant began to plummet.

The country, which is home to the highest mountains on earth and is one of the poorest in the world, is also experiencing strong pressure against it of its poorly equipped health system to manage a soaring increase in Covid cases. An anti-pandemic plan published last year reports the presence of just 0.7 doctors per 100 thousand inhabitants and only 1,595 intensive care beds (of which more than a third are currently occupied).


The Indian variant is believed to be one of the main causes of the increase in infections given that many Nepalese work in companies located in India and they cross the border every day. In addition, there is a large Hindu community in Nepal and the large religious gatherings in recent weeks, as has happened for the “neighbors”, have increased the risk of transmission of the virus. To stop the wave, the government chaired by the Nepalese Prime Minister, Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, suspended all domestic and international flights until May 14 and imposed a lockdown in different areas of the country, including the Kathmandu Valley.

“We must act now and we must act quickly to have the hope of containing this human catastrophe,” Alexander Matheou, director of the Red Cross in Asia Pacific, told the Guardian. The weak management of the emergency by the authorities did not help. In early April, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli explained to his citizens that the infection could be cured by gargling with guava leaves. He is the same leader who said last year that Nepalese have a stronger immune system thanks to their daily consumption of spices. So, people continued to gather en masse, for religious or family celebrations. However, since the infections began to double every 5 days, the government has admitted that the situation “can get out of control”. And he imposed the lockdown in the capital Kathmandu, as well as adopting restrictions on air connections.

Contacts with India, afflicted by the pandemic, are not encouraging. Although there has been a squeeze on the borders (13 crossing points closed, but out of a total of 35), cross-border traffic remains high for the numerous commercial activities across the border. Furthermore, many Indians took refuge in Nepal, hoping to find better health care. As for the returning compatriots, the test was imposed, but according to experts these measures arrived late. The situation in the health system further complicates matters. There are just 1,600 beds in intensive care and less than 500 fans. And an average of 0.7 doctors per 100,000 people. Hospitals are in trouble and those forced to treat their patients on the floor or in the courtyard describe the situation as that of a “war zone”.

The geography of the country, perched on gigantic mountains, makes it complicated the arrival of aid from abroad. “Once the supplies arrive in Kathmandu, often they can only travel on dirt roads. And many villages are accessible only on foot, ”stressed the humanitarian agency Catholic Relief Services. Estimating that guaranteeing the entire population the necessary aid “will be an enormous undertaking”. Also lovers of the magnificent Nepalese peaks they have to deal with the emergency and an evacuation plan has been launched for the numerous mountaineers at high altitude. At Everest Base Camp, where there are 1,600 people, numerous cases of Covid have been recorded and dozens have been flown to Kathmandu by helicopter. Similar situation on Dhaulagiri, the seventh highest mountain on Earth.

May 7, 2021 (change May 7, 2021 | 12:34)

© REPRODUCTION RESERVED

You may also like

Leave a Comment