Read the following passage and answer the questions in your own words.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life worldwide and presents an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems and the world of work. The economic and social disruption caused by the pandemic is devastating: tens of millions of people are at risk of falling into extreme poverty, while the number of undernourished people, currently estimated at nearly 690 million, could increase by up to 132 million by the end of the year. Millions of enterprises face the threat of closure. Nearly half of the world’s 3.3 billion global workforce are at risk of losing their livelihoods. Informal economy workers are particularly vulnerable because the majority lack social protection and access to quality health care. Immediate and purposeful action to save lives and livelihoods should include extending universal health coverage and income support for those most affected. These include workers in the informal economy and in poorly protected and low-paid jobs, including youth, older workers, and migrants. Particular attention must be paid to the situation of women in low-paid jobs. Different forms of support should be given, including cash transfers, child allowances and healthy school meals, shelter and food relief, support for employment retention and recovery, and financial relief for businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises. In designing and implementing such measures it is essential that governments work closely with employers and workers. Now is the time for global solidarity and support, especially with the most vulnerable in our societies, particularly in the emerging and developing world. Only together can we overcome the intertwined social and economic impacts of the pandemic and prevent its escalation into a humanitarian and food security catastrophe, with the potential loss of already achieved development gains.
1. Why does the passage state that the economic and social disruption caused by the Covid 19 pandemic is devastating?
2. Why are ‘informal economy workers’ said to be particularly vulnerable?
3. According to this passage, who are the “most affected” by the pandemic?
4. What forms of support can be extended to those affected?
5. According to the passage, what can happen if there is no global solidarity and support in handling the social and economic impacts of the pandemic?