Where the Pandemic Hits the Hardest: Fragility, Conflict and Covid-19 in Asia

Even before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, 2020 had started as a tough year for vulnerable people in Asia. From the battle for the Rohingya rights at the International Court of Justice, to the assimilation of the state of Jammu&Kashmir in accordance with Narendra Modi’s nationalist agenda, the resurgence of sectarian politics over the last few years has aggravated ethnopolitical conflicts in the region. Today, the coronavirus pandemic risks to further exacerbate clashes, as the need for protection of these fragile groups is being overshadowed by a global crisis that affects everyone equally. What is the state of ethnopolitical conflicts in Asia? Have special coronavirus protection policies been implemented in high-risk areas? What to expect after the pandemic is over?