OVERVIEW
The World Bank is moving quickly to provide fast, flexible responses to help South Asia prepare, detect and respond to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Based on each country’s needs, we are supporting health systems to provide optimum care; strengthening intensive care; improving the capacity of laboratories; procuring personal protective equipment and medical supplies; training medical staff to manage COVID-cases; as well as risk communication, community engagement and behavior change.
Additionally, the economic, social and poverty impacts of this pandemic will be significant. The World Bank is working with South Asia to put in place social protection measures, such as cash transfers and food rations. We also stand ready to provide economic support to the countries that will be hit by recession, to support growth, businesses, and jobs.
NEWS
- Pakistan Takes Action to Reduce Social Impacts of COVID-19
- $1 Billion from World Bank to Protect India’s Poorest from COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
- South Asia Must Ramp Up COVID-19 Action to Protect People, Revive Economies
- Fast-track support from the World Bank will help Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen South Asia's preparedness
BLOGS & FEATURE STORIES
Regional
- A green economic recovery for South Asia, by Urvashi Narain and Hasita Bhammar
- Ensuring food security and nutrition in South Asia during COVID-19, by Cecile Fruman and Yinan Zhang
- The economic impact of COVID-19 on South Asia: 3 Visuals, by Hans Timmer, Valerie Mercer-Blackman, Robert C M Beyer
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus) will hit South Asia hard. We are fighting back, by Hartwig Schafer
- South Asia shows new spirit of collaboration to fight COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, by Cecile Fruman and Mandakini Kaul
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
- Preparing for the Unpredictable - Lessons for the COVID-19 Response from Bangladesh
- Bangladesh’s unlikely inventor creates face shields to tackle coronavirus, by Mokhlesur Rahman, Shazia Omar Ahmed, Mustahsin-ul-Aziz
- How decline in demand for apparel affects poor women in Bangladesh, by Gladys Lopez-Acevedo, Deeksha Kokas, Raymonmd Robertson, Diego Cardozo Medeiros
India
- Rethinking India’s public transport after the COVID-19 lockdown is over, by Gerald Ollivier and Nupur Gupta
- India: The Dual Battle Against Undernutrition and COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
- In India, women’s self-help groups combat the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic
Pakistan
- Immediate relief for Pakistan’s pandemic-stricken poor, by Amjad Zafar Khan
- Coming together like never before to fight COVID-19 in Pakistan, by Dr. Aliya Kashif, Shaza Khan
- COVID-19 delays activities of Pakistan's domestic tourism industry, by Kiran Afzal
Last Updated: May 26, 2020