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JOHANNESBURG: High inequality makes the world vulnerable to pandemics and creates a vicious cycle that puts public health and economies at risk, leading economists, health experts and the UN said Monday.

The findings were based on two years of research by the UNAIDS-convened Global Council on Inequality, AIDS and Pandemics and published in a report released ahead of meetings of G20 leaders in South Africa this month.

“High levels of inequality, within and between countries, are making the world more vulnerable to pandemics, making pandemics more economically disruptive and deadly, and making them last longer,” the report said.

“Pandemics in turn increase inequality, driving the cyclical, self-reinforcing relationship,” it said.

The council that produced the report was led by experts including Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz, former Namibia First Lady Monica Geingos and renowned epidemiologist Sir Michael Marmot.

This “inequality-pandemic cycle” could be seen in recent global public health crises such as COVID-19, AIDS, Ebola, influenza and mpox, they said in a statement.

“Failure to tackle key inequalities and social determinants since COVID-19 has left the world extremely vulnerable to, and unprepared for, the next pandemic,” it said.

The COVID-19 pandemic in particular “pushed 165 million people into poverty while the world’s richest people increased their wealth by more than a quarter,” they said.

Inequality “is a political choice, and a dangerous one that threatens everyone’s health,” Geingos said in a press release.

The report called on world leaders to increase pandemic preparedness by investing in “social protection mechanisms” within their countries while also tackling global inequality, including through debt restructuring for developing countries.

“Pandemics are not only health crises; they are economic crises that can deepen inequality if leaders make the wrong policy choices,” Stiglitz said.

“When efforts to stabilize pandemic-hit economies are paid for through high-interest on debts and through austerity measures, they starve health, education and social protection systems,” he said.

This made societies less resilient and more vulnerable to disease outbreaks.

“Breaking this cycle requires enabling all countries to have the fiscal space to invest in health security,” Stiglitz said.

The report also urged more equal access to treatments and health technology between richer and poorer countries, calling for increased funding for local and regional production and for an immediate waiver of intellectual property once a pandemic is declared.

Stiglitz is also set to present a report on global inequality and poverty to world leaders ahead of the G20 summit on November 22 and 23.

The G20 comprises 19 leading economies as well as the EU and the African Union.

LONDON: The fifth edition of an event that connects the UK travel and tourism market to leading Umrah suppliers from �������� took place in central London on Sunday.

Umrah+ Connect brought together travel professionals, hoteliers, hotel booking platforms, and industry leaders with the aim of improving the future of faith-based travel and pilgrim experiences.

Rashid Mohammed, the organizer of Umrah+ Connect, said a number of new products and services were on display at the event from exhibitors including TAIBA, MCDC Umrah and Tourism, Hilton Hotel & Convention Jabal Omar Makkah, MAQAM, and umrahbookings.com.

Mohammed told Arab News: “We’re seeing a change in the way that Umrah packages are being curated and there are various new products and services here on display today to show that there’s a diverse range of offerings for pilgrims who visit the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

“We want to continue growing Umrah+ Connect to be that platform where people can collaborate, connect, and deliver some fantastic products and services for pilgrims in the future.”

One such offering that caught the eye of many visitors was the recently launched Rixos Obhur Jeddah Resort and Villas, which is described as the first all-inclusive, beach-front resort in ��������.

Located in Jeddah’s Obhur Bay, it offers 250 units, including 176 rooms and suites, and 74 private villas.

Hassan Ahdab, chief hospitality operations officer for Taiba Investments Company, told Arab News that the resort would particularly appeal to British pilgrims performing Umrah with young children.

Featuring a large club where parents can leave their children to be entertained and looked after by professionals, the resort also has male and female spas, marina access, direct Red Sea access, swimming pools, gyms, and indoor and seaside dining options.

Ahdab said that British pilgrims could perform Umrah and then “enjoy a few days’ stay at the resort before heading to Madinah” or alternatively visit first “before driving to Makkah to perform the pilgrimage.”

Junal Chowdhury, business development and innovation executive at HMS Global Business Limited, said the Umrah event was the “perfect networking opportunity” and gave a good insight into the Umrah travel industry.

Chowdhury added: “This is also the perfect opportunity for us, and even small to medium-sized enterprises, to get involved and try and build a relationship and network to get right in the middle of Saudi Vision 2030.”