Gaza and India Updates

As noted on the program May 19, Community thru Covid does not often cover international issues, but please see sources cited here for outlets with global reporting. See also World Health Organization’s Coronavirus Dashboard

India: More than 25 million cases of Covid-19 have been reported, and over 283,000 lives have been lost in India. Just in the last week, the country reported 30,000 deaths due to coronavirus. (Source: Worldometer, a “best source” according to American Library Association; see also Coronavirus Research Center at Johns Hopkins University.) Care, vaccination efforts, and reporting are being seriously slowed by Cyclone Tauktae, and coronavirus is interfering with evacuation and storm response. Some sources: Al Jazeera and The Guardian.

GAZA: Covid response in Gaza has been seriously damaged by Israeli airstrikes. Dr. Ayman Abu Al-Ouf, head of internal medicine at the largest hospital in Gaza, and Dr. Mooein Ahmad al-Aloul, a psychiatric neurologist, were killed earlier this week. Both doctors, along with some of their family members, were killed in their homes. In addition, a Doctors Without Borders clinic providing trauma and burn treatment was hit by an Israeli missile.

Reports from NPR and Al-Jazeera. Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

DC Budget and Reopening links

Robert Warren, whose voice was heard during May 19 Community thru Covid, was speaking during DC 101 “Budget Justice,” organized by Serve Your City. More on this to come.

DC Council Hearing, final vote on the Comprehensive Plan and discussion of ending eviction moratorium, May 18, 2021.

Upcoming (Thursday, May 20) hearing on Public Safety.

Special Committee hearing on Pandemic Recovery (Friday, May 21).

Letter on budget priorities (PDF)