Sounds Strategic

In this episode, Mahsa Rouhi and Emile Hokayem join Meia Nouwens for a discussion on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected countries in the Middle East.Iran has been one of the most severely affected countries in the world, with over 3,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19 (as of 2 April 2020). Mahsa explains how the Iranian public has responded to this crisis and why the combination of US sanctions and regime negligence has worsened the outbreak in the country.Conflict-afflicted countries, such as Syria and Yemen, also stand to be gravely affected by this pandemic for a series of reasons, including the lack of medical facilities after years of conflict. Emile explores how this pandemic presents a ‘cascade of problems’ for these countries and will likely exacerbate existing insecurities, especially among vulnerable IDP and refugee populations.Both Mahsa and Emile speak on the mixed role non-state groups have had in combating the virus and why a lack of trust in state institutions has led to weakened public adher