NGOs warn of inequalities in developing countries due to Covid
Many respondents said they found it difficult to follow simple hygiene rules, such as disinfecting their hands regularly, to halt the spread of Covid.
Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
People in developing countries have less to eat and saw their income drop as result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a survey by an alliance of NGOs from Switzerland and other European countries found.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/ug
Español
es
La COVID ahonda desigualdades en países en desarrollo
More than 40% of respondents from developing countries said they experienced a decrease in food quantity and quality notably in the poorest parts of the world, according to the Alliance2015External link network, which included the Swiss aid organisation, HelvetasExternal link.
Three in four respondents reported a reduction in income. Women reported a higher reliance on remittances, petty trade and men had to resort to more casual labour..
A third of the respondents also reported a worsening of their health and almost 28% were not sure whether their children will return to school when they reopen again.
Most respondents said they were aware of the measures to reduce the transmission of infections but one in four found it difficult to respect the rules.
The survey was conducted in 25 countries around the world, covering 16,000 people between October and December last year.
Popular Stories
More
Climate adaptation
Why Switzerland is among the ten fastest-warming countries in the world
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
Switzerland is Europe’s most innovative country, EU study finds
This content was published on
In the European Commission's annual ranking, the Swiss score dropped slightly in 2025, but not enough to cost it top spot.
Women’s Euro 2025 has been largely peaceful so far
This content was published on
After two weeks of football fever in various Swiss host cities, no major incidents have been reported so far, police say.
Planned solar park at Bern airport scaled back after talks
This content was published on
The ground-mounted plant at Belpmoos Airport will be smaller than originally planned, the parties involved said on Tuesday.
NGOs urge Swiss banks to ease developing country debt
This content was published on
The NGOs in question are Alliance Sud, Swissaid, Fastenopfer, Bread for All, Helvetas, Terre des Hommes Schweiz, Solidar Suisse, Public Eye, KEESA, Solifonds and MultiWatch. They are also urging Swiss banks to make public the size of loans, the terms of credit and the method of repayment to developing countries. The consortium says that 86 of…
Swiss aid groups help counter fake coronavirus news
This content was published on
In Africa and Latin America, rumours are spreading as fast as the coronavirus. Here’s how Swiss groups are trying to protect the population.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.