ASIA: Association Of Asia Pacific Airlines Cries Out To Government For Financial Bailout

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines calls on governments to provide financial support for airlines to weather the Covid-19 storm.

APPA says air travel in the Asia Pacific is virtually grinding to a halt due to the travel bans, border closures, lockdowns, quarantine and isolation orders imposed by governments.

Representing the interests of hundreds of airlines in the Asia-Pacific, APPA calls on governments to rapidly implement emergency relief measures.

Association of Asia Pacific Airlines Advice

Suspend payroll taxes, defer or reduce income taxes, the extension of payment terms, waiver of ticket taxes & other government levies, taxes, dues and charges for 2020.

Direct financial support for reduced revenues and liquidity support due to travel restrictions

Extend interest-free loans or loan guarantees, and support for corporate bond markets either directly or to commercial banks to extend credit for affected companies.

Direct financial support needed for individuals facing the loss of livelihood.

AAPA urges all Governments to take immediate action to address the societal impact of the world’s worst public health crisis in a century.

Asian airlines are facing revenue shortfalls of upwards of USD60 billion this year as a result of sharp falls in demand which have already forced the grounding of over half of the fleet.

Many of the 1 million workers employed in the Asia Pacific airline industry are unable to work because of the drastic reductions in operations. Many are facing the threat of a loss of their livelihoods.

The sharp reductions in passenger services have also drastically reduced available air cargo capacity affecting critical supply chains, including getting food and medical supplies to affected communities worldwide.

Asian airlines are continuing to operate dedicated freighter services but need help in streamlining operations, scheduling, and crew clearances to keep critical goods moving as a lifeline.

APPA claims the World Health Organisation (WHO) is providing strong leadership in coordinating the global public health response and notes that this is the first pandemic we can control if all countries and sectors come together.

CONGO DR: Congolese Pilgrims Denied Saudi Visas Over Ebola

Pilgrims from the Democratic Republic of the Congo will not be issued visas by Saudi Arabia amid fears Ebola could spread during next month’s Hajj pilgrimage.DPeople from sub-Saharan Africa make up about 10 percent of the more than two million annual pilgrims to the holy city of Mecca.

A statement from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: The granting of arrivals visas for people entering from DRC has been stopped, to conserve the well-being of pilgrims.

The suspension comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak in Congo’s eastern North Kivu and Ituri provinces a public health emergency of international concern.

However, despite this, WHO has said no countries should place restrictions on travel or trade because of Ebola and it has called on governments not to panic in response to the decision by Riyadh.

Around three percent of Congo’s population is Muslim, while people from sub-Saharan Africa make up about 10 percent of the more than two million annual pilgrims to the holy city of Mecca.

In 2014, Saudi Arabia cancelled more than 7,000 visas for pilgrims from Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia during the last Ebola outbreak, which claimed the lives of more than 11,000 people.

The epidemic has killed over 1,700 people since it emerged last October, according to the health ministry in Congo.


Tourism Observer

UGANDA: Travellers Should Present Yellow Fever Immunisation Cards At Entebbe International Airport

Travellers to Uganda from high risk yellow fever countries must produce a valid immunisation certificate against the disease to be allowed into the country, according to new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.

According to Dr James Sekajugo, a principal medical officer at the Health ministry, Uganda is now at high risk after the disease killed one person in neighbouring Kenya.

“There is a yellow fever outbreak in Angola and so far over 200 people have died. There is another outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which has claimed eight lives,” said Dr Sekajugo.

He added: “Recently, two Kenyans travelled from Angola and tested positive for the fever. One died and another is still receiving treatment.”

This, according to Dr Sekajugo, has brought the disease next to Ugandan boundaries and the disease spreads faster by air transport thus the decision to have immunisation cards produced at Entebbe airport. “Any passenger travelling to and from a high risk country will be required to produce a valid yellow fever immunisation certificate before they are allowed to proceed,” said Dr Sekajugo. He said the certificate should have been issued 10 days before travel.

The card requirement is meant to ensure passengers are protected from contracting and spreading the disease.

“We are working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to ensure that passengers who appear without the cards receive the yellow fever vaccine at the airport on their costs upon arrival,” he added.

All airlines plying Entebbe International Airport have been asked to ensure that their passengers from high risk countries possess the certificate before being issued with an air ticket.

World Health Organisation (WHO) describes Yellow fever as an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The “yellow” in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients. Uganda is also listed as a high risk country. In Uganda vaccination is offered at KCCA clinics, Case Hospital and the Surgery in Naguru.

Signs and symptoms; fever, muscle pain with prominent backache, headache, shivers, loss of appetite, and nausea or vomiting.

THE BACKGROUND
Countries in Africa that should have certificates include Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Ivory Coast, DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia and Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Sudan, Sudan, Togo and Uganda.