The Emirates called for strengthening the international humanitarian response and providing urgent relief to those in need
mena3 hours ago
India’s main opposition Congress party on Friday demanded a hefty rise in compensation for the families of those who died of Covid-19, after the World Health Organization estimated the country’s toll was nearly 10 times the reported figure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has rejected the WHO estimate released on Thursday that 4.7 million people died in India as a result of the pandemic until last year, when hospitals ran out of oxygen and beds due to a record wave driven by the Delta variant.
India has reported only 524,002 Covid-19 deaths - the most after the United States and Brazil - with more than 43 million infections. Actual infections are believed to be in the hundreds of millions in the country of 1.35 billion people.
“Science doesn’t LIE. Modi does,” Congress’s second-in-command, Rahul Gandhi, said on Twitter, citing the WHO report. “Respect families who have lost loved ones.”
He asked the government to compensate the families of each person dying of Cpvid with 400,000 rupees ($5,213). The government currently gives 50,000 once deaths are confirmed to be from Covid.
A government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The government rejected the WHO estimates as the “validity and robustness of the models used and methodology of data collection are questionable”.
An Indian government source said they would continue to engage with the WHO.
ALSO READ:
The WHO said it had not yet fully examined new data provided this week by India, which issued its own mortality figures for all causes of death in 2020 on Tuesday. The UN body said it may add a disclaimer to its report highlighting ongoing conversations with India.
Some Indian states, nevertheless, have agreed to compensate more families than their official tally suggests.
Modi’s home state of Gujarat, for example, has recorded around 11,000 Covid fatalities since the start of the pandemic but has approved at least 87,000 compensation claims.
The Emirates called for strengthening the international humanitarian response and providing urgent relief to those in need
mena3 hours ago
Photonics is the study of light and has several applications including LED, VR, holograms, high-speed internet and solar panels among other things
uae3 hours ago
A delegation from Egypt arrived in Israel on Friday hoping to revive the truce negotiations
mena3 hours ago
The decision aims to protect the safety and security of pilgrims
gulf4 hours ago
They have been carrying out rescue operations for the last four years, drawing on their extensive experience in saving people from desert terrain
uae5 hours ago
Dubai Amateur 17-year-old Oscar Craig continues to showcase his impressive form with third-round level par 72 at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club
sports5 hours ago
The tragic incident led to the death of a number of innocent people from Yemen
mena5 hours ago
Alongside regional leaders, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will attend the meetings
world6 hours ago