By María Celeste Vargas Solorzano – International Relations student

Ever since the Covid-19 virus outbreak, the media has covered governmental decisions and precautions regarding the avoidance to propagate this disease, but have you heard of the consular services and foreign measures that lookout as well for the wellbeing of its nation? Many foreign ministries and consular affairs have been heavily involved in national efforts to decrease the impact on the coronavirus situation. Some of the tasks they have come forward to apply, following the safety measures as well needed, involve offering consular guidance and assistance to all citizens stranded abroad, obtaining needed medical gear from other countries to fulfill the citizen's health needs, and, lastly, accommodating international collaborations through which scientific discoveries would help search for an efficient vaccine to the coronavirus. These measures have impacted and helped many State citizens as well as people stranded in the country due to the pandemic (Bjola, 2020).

After the arrival of the pandemic in December of 2019 and its rapid spread across Asia, Europe, and then America, many countries began to shut down their borders. Hence, some consular services have been provided to those citizens who are stranded in another country and are not able to travel back to their country due to worldwide travel restrictions. These consular assistance services are heavily focused on tourists and migrants, specifically students and migrant workers. There are two ways consular services assist nationals stranded aboard. The logistical assistance provides information on how to travel back and arrange repatriation by their country, while the financial assistance provides financial help from the country of origin to those who cannot afford to travel back to their country (International Organization for Migration, 2020).

As coronavirus cases kept increasing, a critical medical shortage of gears and supplies such as ventilators, protective masks, testing swabs, surgical gowns, and hand sanitizers affected the medical performance of experts all around the world. Looking at the vast necessity of these products alongside the huge economic downfall of each country, many States helped each other out with donations. Foreign ministries arrange donations to other countries and accept any individual, group, or organization donatives, as well; like in the specific case of the Republic of the Philippines (Embassy of the Philippines, 2021). Even big countries such as the United States have encountered medical gear shortages. To date, most of the medical donations made to the U.S have been from China (Mothern Healthcare, 2020).

The huge demand for coronavirus vaccines led to many governments implementing strategic collaborations through which experts from all around the world would gather and have a take on the creation of a Covid-19 vaccine. By this, scientists not just share their knowledge and experiences but also speed up their work. An analysis made by Jesse Bumb (2021) explains how these collaborations are created under the same interests and how countries are involved in creating bonds. “The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 shows the close connections between countries, and the poorly managed economic and social costs are further evidence of their shared fate” (Bump, 2021). International collaborations, between foreign ministries, alongside international entities, help establishes good practices, determines shared understanding, and builds great trust amongst nations. hello

The negative impact the pandemic brought within has made diplomacy act on a higher level. States having vast and open communication between themselves has helped with the recovery of their issues. The different approaches implemented to look out for each nation, as well as each individual, have proven to impact positively. From introducing assistance to those struggling outside their country of origin, helping other nations by donating medical equipment, and internationally collaborate with different countries to look out for a solution that benefits everyone. If there is a positive outcome to be mentioned regarding the virus outbreak, would be how close diplomacy brought different nations and how strong their relationships may remain from this moment on.

 

MOXIE es el Canal de ULACIT (www.ulacit.ac.cr), producido por y para los estudiantes universitarios, en alianza con el medio periodístico independiente Delfino.cr, con el propósito de brindarles un espacio para generar y difundir sus ideas.  Se llama Moxie - que en inglés urbano significa tener la capacidad de enfrentar las dificultades con inteligencia, audacia y valentía - en honor a nuestros alumnos, cuyo “moxie” los caracteriza.

References:
  • Bjola, C. (2020, March 31). Digital Diplomacy in the Time of the Coronavirus Pandemic. USC Center on Public Diplomacy. https://uscpublicdiplomacy.org/blog/digital-diplomacy-time-coronavirus-pandemic
  • Bump, J. B. (2021, January 29). International collaboration and covid-19: what are we doing and where are we going? The BMJ. https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n180
  • Embassy of the Philippines. (2021). Donations: Embassy of the Philippines in Singapore. https://www.philippine-embassy.org.sg/the-philippines-2/donations/
  • International Organization for Migration. (2020, August 31). Migration Research. https://www.iom.int/migration-research
  • Modern Healthcare. (2020, March 21). Imports of medical supplies plummet as demand in the US soars. https://www.modernhealthcare.com/supply-chain/imports-medical-supplies-plummet-demand-us-soars