In Yemen, COVID-19 has been another wound to the country’s ongoing food insecurity, due to which the UN food relief agency states 10 million Yemenis are “one step away from famine”. The virus has led to a dramatic reduction in foreign aid provided to Yemen, as most countries are self focused on the well-being of their own citizens. The negative impacts on both Haiti and Yemen’s food security, hygiene and sanitation, and health services have been dire and deadly.

Health equity has never been more important than it is right now. Proud as we are of our global efforts and international reputation, Canada can do more to ensure global access to medicines to fight COVID19, as well as growing humanitarian crises across the globe. Lending a helping hand not only supports Canadian interests in security, trade, migration, health and economic stability, but supports human dignity. We need to invest 1% of our COVID-19 response efforts in global aid, and should commit to a lasting increase in Canadian Aid through Official Development Assistance so that vulnerable countries with humanitarian crises have the services they need, and no one is left behind.

Jessica Gooden
Queen’s University Class of 2022