By Nava Thakuria*
Globally 840 scribes died of Covid-19 in 12 months, India loses 2 in last 30 days
Globally 840 journalists succumbed to Covid-19 complications in 68 countries during the last 12 months that counts more than 2 scribes per day on average, stated the Switzerland based media watchdog Press Emblem Campaign (PEC).
“This is the heaviest toll in the media community since World War II. The PEC team deplores this large number of victims from the novel coronavirus and sends its condolences to families and colleagues,” said Blaise Lempen, secretary-general of PEC, in Geneva, today.
It is essential that now journalists can have rapid access to vaccination so that they can do their works in the field without endangering their lives, asserted Lempen adding that total number of media-victims is certainly higher, as the cause of death of journalists is sometimes not specified or their death not announced.
After the Latin American countries (458 deaths) Asian nations witness maximum media corona-casualties (151 in 17 countries) followed by Europe (147 in 16 countries), North America (45 in 2 countries) and Africa (39 in 15 countries). India leads in casualties (56) among the Asian countries followed by Bangladesh (44), Pakistan (23), Afghanistan (9), Nepal (3), Indonesia (2), Japan (1) etc.
Peru remains the country with the heaviest death toll where 108 media workers died from the coronavirus since March 2020. Brazil is in second place with 102 victims, ahead of Mexico, that deplores 87 journalists who died of Covid-19. Italy is the most bereaved European country with 46 journalist’s deaths.
Other nations with media corona casualties include United States (44), Ecuador (42), Colombia (37), Great Britain (26), Turkey (21), Panama (16), Ukraine (14), Bolivia (also 14), Russia (13), Spain (12), Argentina (9), Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nigeria, South Africa, Venezuela (8 each), Egypt, France, Nicaragua (6 each), Guatemala (4), Cameroon, Iran, Morocco, Salvador, Sweden, Zimbabwe (3 each).
At least two deaths reported from Algeria, Cuba, Paraguay, Portugal and one casualty among media workers recorded in Switzerland, Belgium, Poland, Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Israel, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Chile, Czech Republic, DR Congo, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Mozambique, Benin, Uganda, Uruguay etc.
India lost two journalists within the last 30 days after the Jaipur based scribe Sanjay Bohra (50) became the latest victim, who died of Covid-19 aggravated ailments on March 2, whereas popular television news anchor Vikas Sharma (35) passed away on 4 February due to post-corona complications.
* Nava Thakuria is a senior journalist and PEC’s country representative in India
