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raying feverishly under her breath, the wife of a critically ill Covid-19 patient paces the corridors of the Baghdad coronavirus ward against a sudden tide of doctors. Behind her on the hospital bed, her asthmatic husband starts to spasm painfully as his airways close.Exhausted medics rush to save his life. Against the insistent sigh of ventilators, with her head bowed, his wife pleads for a miracle.

It is another difficult afternoon for the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) staff working at the al-Kindi hospital in the Iraqi capital which over the last few weeks has witnessed an unprecedented surge in Covid cases that threatens to overwhelm the healthcare system. Funded by our Supporter Programme, The Independent spoke to staff about their fears for the coming months.

Today all 51 beds for serious and critical patients are full. There are people waiting in the emergency room for a bed to become free, Omar Ebeid, MSFs project coordinator in Baghdad, says.

We are receiving many seriously ill people and many are dying. With the highest ever number of cases in Iraq declared we expect this situation to continue for a while, and that is very worrying.

In many countries across the world, people have been tentatively celebrating the light at the end of the tunnel after a year of the pandemic. Lockdowns are gradually lifting and vaccine programmes are in full swing.

In Iraq, however, the opposite is happening. The war-ravaged country is now in the grips of its worst wave of the deadly virus so far: on Wednesday last week the health ministry registered over 8,300 cases, its highest ever daily figure. Since then, the numbers have remained consistently high and, because of a woeful lack of testing, the true number of infections is expected to be far higher. Overall, official numbers show more than 940,000 have been infected with the virus while nearly 14,800 people have died.

After a dip in numbers over winter, Covid-19 appears to have returned with full force, raging through the 40 million-strong population, which has struggled to impose social distancing.

Iraqs health ministry has warned of the dire consequences of citizens failing to heed coronavirus prevention measures, which it said were almost non-existent in most regions of Iraq. It called on tribal sheikhs, activists and influential figures to speak out and inform the public on the severity of the pandemic.

Just a few months ago the team at MSF which runs a joint facility with the Iraqi ministry of health thought the numbers had sunk so low they would wind down their clinic.

We had started to consider when we could pull out. In the end, we had to cancel the exit, says Catherine Moody, head of MSFs mission in Iraq. These numbers are real. This is not a little bump, they are continually going up.

Teams are now working around the clock to keep people alive and it has led to signs of burnout, says Dr Ali al-Keel, one of MSFsIraqi staff members.

The second wave came really fast, he says, wearing multiple layers of personal protective equipment as family members sleep on the floor of packed wards behind him. Its like running a marathon but the finish line keeps moving.

MSF medics rush to help open the airways of an asthmatic Covid-19 patient in their clinic in Baghdad

(Bel Trew)

One of the key problems is the lack of vaccines. While several countries have already successfully inoculated a significant proportion of their population, Iraq is trailing far behind. It received its first shipment of vaccines only last month 336,000 AstraZeneca jabs from the World Health Organisation-supported Covax programme with 50,000 Pfizer jabs following last Sunday.

Before that, the country had received just 50,000 doses as a donation from China to immunise healthcare workers.

So far the health ministry says more than 110,000 people have been vaccinated. The new doses would barely cover the 216,000 or so medical workers believed to be in Iraq.

Officials tell The Independent that, while they are preparing 80 field hospitals across the country and several thousand Covid-19 beds, they still worry it will not be enough. We saw this surge in numbers coming months ago and we issued tens of statements warning people about what will happen if they do not follow the health rules, health ministry spokesman Saif al-Badr says. But there has been no thorough application of the measures.

Its related to health education, we set the rules but we are not responsible for enforcing them and people are not following them.

The country has imposed several round-the-clock curfews that in some areas, such as central Baghdad, have been policed by heavily armed members of the security forces.

But in other cities, towns and villages particularly those ravaged by recent wars like Mosul, the former Isis stronghold few people wear masks while market places and streets are jammed.

Badr tells The Independent that they hoped the vaccine rollout would help, adding that they had so far negotiated the procurement of 6 million vaccines but that was not enough to ensure herd immunity.

We are even worried about another surge, even worse than now, he continues.

He says there were particular concerns about 1.4 million people internally displaced within the country, many of whom live in makeshift tents where social distancing is impossible. Because of this, MSF staff argue that Iraq should be considered a global priority.

Iraq recently registered its highest daily figure for Covid cases

(Bel Trew)

It is one of the hardest-hit nations on the planet: its health system has been weakened by years of conflict and its economy is struggling in the wake of the crash in the price of oil. All of which mean it is ill-equipped to halt the spread of the virus.

Back in the clinic, MSF workers say that, of the 414 admissions to their wards since the end of September, 156 have been in the last month alone. They are already at full capacity and fear this will be the case in hospitals across the country.

Ziyad Ismeel, an MSF medical assistant, says he is also concerned that in this second wave the patients are younger and they are arriving in a more critical state. Ebeid, meanwhile, describes the mortality rate as frightening.

Zohour Assaid, 55, one of MSFs patients who is recovering after almost dying from the virus, says she has noticed cases soar in her community over the last month and urged the population to take care.

Please take this seriously, wear your masks, stay home, its real its deadly, she says, struggling to talk from her hospital bed. I hope, God willing, Iraq will be safe.

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Iraqs deadliest coronavirus wave is only just beginning - The Independent

Moscow Russia warned the United States on Tuesday against sending warships to the Black Sea, urging American forces to stay away from the annexed Crimean peninsula "for their own good" as the situation along Ukraine's border caused increasing concern in the West. The U.S. Secretary of State, meeting with Ukrainian and NATO officials in Brussels, made it clear that the Biden administration, along with its allies in Europe, has Ukraine's back and considers Russia's ongoing military buildup in the region "very provocative."

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Friday that Washington had informed Ankara that two U.S. warships would pass through Turkish waters this week to be deployed in the Black Sea. The deployment would come amid a significant escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and Ukraine's forces, which have U.S. and European support.

Hostilities first flared in 2014 when Russia unilaterally annexed Crimea a peninsula that sticks out into the Black Sea and is home to a Russian navy base away from Ukraine, drawing condemnation from the Western world and a series of sanctions.

Russian Deputy Foreign Ministry Sergei Ryabkov was cited by Russian news agencies on Tuesday as calling the deployment of U.S. warships in the Black Sea a provocation designed to test Russia's nerves.

"There is absolutely nothing for American ships to be doing near our shores," Ryabkov said, warning there was a very high risk of unspecified incidents if U.S. military hardware were to be positioned in the Black Sea.

"We warn the United States that it will be better for them to stay far away from Crimea and our Black Sea coast," Ryabkov was quoted as saying. "It will be for their own good."

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby declined during a regular press briefing on Friday to confirm the Turkish government's statement that U.S. warships were being sent to the Black Sea. He noted that the U.S. "routinely" operates in the Black Sea, but said he wouldn't "speak to operations."

The current escalation has added strain to already tense U.S.-Russian relations. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Russia against aggressive actions in an interview aired over the weekend, saying any aggression in Ukraine would have consequences.

Ryabkov responded on Tuesday, accusing the Russian "adversary" of trying to undermine Russia's position on the international stage. He reiterated Russia's readiness to defend the interests of its citizens, and ethnic Russian speakers in eastern Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was preparing itself in the event any new sanctions should be imposed on Moscow by the U.S. or its global partners.

Meanwhile, Russia has continued to move forces into both Crimea and the region along its border with Ukraine. The Defense Ministry reported on Tuesday that 15 warships and vessels of the Caspian Flotilla had been sent to the Black Sea as part of previously announced military exercises.

Ukraine said earlier this week that Russia had already massed more than 40,000 troops along its border, and at least 40,000 more in Crimea. Russia says the troop buildup is part of exercises, and has stressed that its forces will go where they want, when they want on Russian territory.

Top U.S. officials are in Europe this week, including Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Blinken. Austin announced during a stop in Germany on Tuesday that the U.S. was going to deploy an additional 500 troops to that country.

When asked if the move was meant as a message to Russia, he said it was "a sign to NATO" of the U.S. commitment to the transatlantic alliance, and of the firm commitment to Germany. Under President Donald Trump, Washington said it would withdraw thousands of the American forces who've been stationed in Germany for decades. That decision was suspended by the Biden administration, and now the force is set to grow.

Blinken, meanwhile, was in Brussels, meeting NATO partners, and he met separately with his Ukrainian counterpart to discuss the standoff with Russia.

"The United States stands firmly behind the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and I'm her to reaffirm that with the foreign minister today," Blinken said. "That's particularly important in a time when we're seeing, unfortunately, Russia take very provocative action when it comes to Ukraine. We're now seeing the largest concentration of Russian forces on Ukraine's border since 2014. That is a big concern not only to Ukraine, but to the United States and indeed to many of our allies and partners."

Sitting across from him, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the Russian buildup was "taking place not only along the border of Ukraine, but along the border of the democratic world. For thousands of kilometers to the north and to the east of our border with Russia, there is no democracy. So, this is the struggle that is taking place between democracies and authoritarianism, and in this struggle the support of the United States is absolutely crucial, and deeply appreciated."

Kuleba thanked NATO, also, and said that warnings already conveyed to Moscow through diplomatic channels, "will be supported by actions that make it very clear for Russia that the price of further aggression against Ukraine will be too heavy for it to bear."

He said the Ukrainian and U.S. delegations in Brussels, and more broadly the NATO allies at large, would continue discussing ways to ensure stability along his country's tense border with Russia.

While no NATO deployments have been confirmed, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed the alliance was planning to position 40,000 more troops and 15,000 pieces of military equipment close to Russian territory. He didn't elaborate, but said that "in response to the military activity of the alliance that threatens Russia, we have taken appropriate measures."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier on Tuesday that he was "seriously concerned" by Russia's deployment of additional forces to the Ukrainian border.

"Russia is now trying to reestablish some kind of sphere of influence where they try to decide what neighbors can do," Stoltenberg said.

CBSNews.com's Tucker Reals contributed to this report.

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Russia warns U.S. to stay away for its "own good" as ...

Secretary of State Antony Blinken gives a press briefing at the end of a NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, March 24, 2021.

Olivier Hoslet | Reuters

WASHINGTON Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Sunday he was concerned about the number of Russian troops massing on the Ukrainian border and warned Moscow that "there will be consequences" for aggressive behavior.

"I have to tell you I have real concerns about Russia's actions on the borders of Ukraine. There are more Russian forces massed on those borders than at any time since 2014 when Russia first invaded," Blinken said during an interview on "Meet the Press" Sunday.

"President Biden's been very clear about this. If Russia acts recklessly, or aggressively, there will be costs, there will be consequences," Blinken said, adding that the United States was discussing the unfolding aggression on the border with allies and partners.

On Friday, Blinken spoke to his German and French counterparts in part, about "Russian provocations against Ukraine."

Last week, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the Biden administration was consulting with NATO allies about the uptick in tensions and cease-fire violations.

"The United States is increasingly concerned by recent escalating Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, including Russian troop movements on Ukraine's border," she told reporters on Thursday, calling the matter "deeply concerning."

Read more: U.S. concerned about Russian troop movements near Ukraine, discussing regional tensions with NATO allies

In recent weeks, Moscow has increased its military presence along the Ukrainian border, sparking concerns in the West of a budding military conflict between the two neighboring countries. The Russian Defense Ministry has said it isconducting more than 4,000 military drills this monthto inspect the readiness of its forces.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visits positions of armed forces near the frontline with Russian-backed separatists during his working trip in Donbass region, Ukraine April 8, 2021.

Ukrainian Presidential Press Service | Handout | via Reuters

Last month, the Ukrainian government said four of its soldiers were killed by Russian shelling in Donbass. Moscow has denied it has forces in eastern Ukraine. Since 2014, Kyiv has been battling Russian-backed separatists in a conflict that has left at least 13,000 people dead, according to U.N. figures.

Read more:The West waits for Putin's next move as Russia-Ukraine tensions rise

Kremlin spokesmanDmitry Peskov said Friday that Moscow will move its forces across Russian territory at its discretion and called the escalating tensions "unprecedented." He also suggested that Ukraine was on the brink of civil war, which would threaten Russia's security.

"The Kremlin has fears that a civil war could resume in Ukraine. And if a civil war, a full-scale military action, resumes near our borders that would threaten the Russian Federation's security," Peskov said, according to the Associated Press. "The ongoing escalation of tensions is quite unprecedented."

Russian PresidentVladimir Putinaccused Ukraine of resuming "dangerous provocative actions" on a call Friday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to a readout from the Kremlin. The Kremlin has previously said that it is concerned about the rising tensions in eastern Ukraine and that it feared Kyiv's forces were attempting to restart a conflict.

Last week, the Pentagon reiterated its calls for the Kremlin to explain its decision to mobilize troops to the border.

"The Russians are engaged in conducting a military buildup along the eastern border of Ukraine and in Crimea, which still belongs to Ukraine, and that is of concern. And we want to know more about what it is they're doing and what their intentions are because we don't believe it's conducive to security and stability there.," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters Friday.

Later this week, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will meet in person with NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg at the alliance headquarters in Brussels.

See the article here:
Blinken warns Moscow of consequences amid troop buildup ...

"What was striking today was every single ally expressed the same concerns," said Blinken, speaking alongside US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Ukraine estimates that Russia has amassed as many as 50,000 troops in the region, while the current US assessment is that the Russian military has moved more than 40 battalion tactical groups into the border area, which could total up 40,000 troops. It is the largest buildup of Russian troops near Ukraine since 2014, when Russian forces invaded the country and occupied the Crimean Peninsula.

"It is a part of a broader pattern of Russian aggressive action, which raises very serious concerns," said Stoltenberg. "Allies fully support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and we call on Russia to de-escalate immediately, stop its pattern of aggressive provocations and respect its international commitments."

On Tuesday, Gen. Tod Wolters, head of the US European Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee the latest intelligence showed that a "very sizable" Russian ground force as well as "notable" increased air and naval forces had moved into the Ukraine border region and Crimea. "It is of the size and scale and scope that is of great concern, and it mirrors the size and scope and scale of the infiltration of forces that occurred back in 2014."

In addition, Russia has moved SA-22 air defense missile units into the region, according to a US official tracking Russian movements. That system is designed to protect Russian troops and critical military and civilian targets against air attack.

"We call upon Russia to cease their provocations and to be more transparent about this recent activity," said Austin, noting that the US has provided Ukraine with nonlethal materials, weapons and trainers, and that he expects that to continue.

Pentagon officials say the current intelligence does not indicate that this land force is prepared for offensive operations in the next few days, because there is no evidence of the logistics, spare parts, fuel and medical capability that would need to be pre-positioned. But the concern remains that there are also no indicators of Russia reducing its forces or signaling a de-escalation. And events on the ground can change quickly, officials caution, noting that the intelligence assessments typically project out for only a few days at a time.

US reconnaissance aircraft are continuing to fly over the Black Sea to gather intelligence about Russian moves. The US assesses the Russians are likely to begin their own maritime war games in the area in the coming days.

The US Navy filed initial diplomatic paperwork with Turkey for permission to send two warships into the Black Sea in the coming days but has decided not to send the ships into the sensitive region, according to a defense official with direct knowledge. The destroyers are being kept out of the Black Sea for now, as the move is seen as too escalatory, US officials say. Instead, the ships will remain in the nearby Aegean Sea area, ready to respond if needed.

"We will remain vigilant," one official says.

Russia's deputy foreign minister, Sergey Ryabkov, warned the United States on Tuesday that it is better for the US Navy to stay away from the Russian Federation and Crimea, stating that the risks of incidents are very high, according to state news agency RIA.

The United States "must understand that the risks of certain incidents are very high. We have already observed something similar in a completely different water area this year. We warn the United States that it is better for them to stay away from Crimea, from our Black Sea coast. For their own good," Ryabkov told reporters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CNN's Matthew Chance that the US is a "good friend" of Ukraine, but that Biden "must do more," to deter Russia and help bring this conflict to an end.

Originally posted here:
US and other NATO members pledge support to Ukraine while walking fine line with Russia - CNN

Issued on: 16/04/2021 - 19:59

What could possibly go wrong?Russia insisting that the 83-thousand troops its land and sea maneouvres at the Ukranian border are routine.Ukraine responding with military drills of its own with diplomatic lobbying in overdrive. Latest stop for president Volodimir Zelesnkiy Paris where lunch at the presidential palace came with a phone call to German leader Angela Merkel. Tensions were dialled up further on Wednesday with the expected arrival of two US warships.

The Russians then decided to stage live fire naval exercises. Only in the end, those two warships never came.

Further easttwenty years after 9-11, ten years after the killing of Osama Ben Laden, it was the week Joe Biden fixed a final withdrawal date from Afghanistan. The USpresident dispatching his secretary of state to Kabul to brief president Ashraf Ghani and try to reassure his hostswith mixed results. What a US-led Nato withdrawal means for Afghanistan's neighbors is also an open question. After announcing that troop withdrawalthe US president going to Arlington National cemetary, where 14-thousand US military veterans are buried, a reminder that his late son, Beau Biden earned a bronze star in Afghanistan.

A footnote in all of it may be Hong Kong where sentenced were handed down for nine prominent pro-democracy activists. Their crime, taking part in mass protests back in 2019. On the same day of the Hong Kong sentencing,the French president and the German chancellor in a three-way conference call with Chinese president Xi Jinping. The topic on the agenda:climate change. How much leverage do European leaders have if they feel like talking human rights?

Produced by Charles Wente, Juliette Laurain andLopoldine Iribarren.

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The world this week - Ukraine tensions, US Afghanistan withdrawal, Hong Kong, Notre Dame Cathedral - FRANCE 24