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"Protect our children"
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads across the globe, we are seeing an alarming pattern. The poorest and most vulnerable members of society are being hardest hit, both by the pandemic and the response. I am especially concerned about the well-being of the world’s children.
United Nations working to mitigate COVID-19 impact on children
As COVID-19 continues its march around the world, the United Nations is working to reduce its negative impact on children, who are facing new health risks, disruptions to their education and increased exposure to domestic violence and hunger.
Musicians form online ensemble during pandemic
In two days, three friends composed and recorded a music – two of them in one city, another 300 kilometers away. This is how Vinicius Leal, musician and composer, deals with the stress of being trapped in one place for almost a month due to the new coronavirus crisis.
United Nations peacekeeping continues vital work amid COVID-19 pandemic
Despite some restrictions the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on their activities, United Nations peacekeeping missions are continuing to carry out their mandates while also helping countries in their coronavirus response. Meanwhile, the United Nations is taking stringent measures to ensure that peacekeeping personnel remain free from COVID-19.
Syrian refugees donate food to elderly people during the pandemic in Brazil
The couple Talal and Ghazal Al-Tinawi, both Syrian refugees in Brazil, felt the decrease of orders at their Arabic food delivery service due to the COVID-19 in Sao Paulo, the state with the highest number of cases in Brazil. Even so, they found a caring alternative to contribute to mitigating the new virus transmission.
"This is a time for science and solidarity"
As the world fights the deadly COVID-19 pandemic – the most challenging crisis we have faced since the Second World War – we are also seeing another epidemic -- a dangerous epidemic of misinformation. Around the world, people are scared. They want to know what to do and where to turn for advice. This is a time for science and solidarity. Yet the global ‘misinfo-demic’ is spreading.
Calibrating the COVID-19 Crisis Response to the SDGs
The COVID-19 crisis is now a global one that has also morphed into larger and more global economic and social crisis than the financial collapse of 2008-2009. High income countries have done well to backstop their financial systems and have also begun to advance bold stimulus packages for recovery. However, emerging market and developing countries lack the wherewithal for such a response and worse—they are experiencing flight of portfolio capital like in no other period in their memories.
UN working to avert dual crises as COVID-19 hits hunger hotspots
Although the global supply of food remains strong amid the COVID-19 outbreak, concerns are rising about how quarantine regulations, partial port closures and movement restrictions are creating logistical hurdles in the shipping and trucking industry. Against this backdrop. the United Nations is calling on Governments to keep trade routes and supply chains open to help maintain food supplies, particularly for vulnerable people living in developing countries.
Danish Michelin Star chef cooks to make a difference
A couple of weeks ago Danish chef Rasmus Munk made Michelin-starred dishes, now he prepares pasta salad and tartlets for the homeless in Copenhagen.
"Let us renew our faith in one another"
Today, I want to make a special appeal to religious leaders of all faiths to join forces to work for peace around the world and focus on our common battle to defeat COVID19. I do so at a special time on the spiritual calendar. For Christians, it is the celebration of Easter. Jews are marking Passover. And soon, Muslims will begin the holy month of Ramadan. I extend my warmest wishes to all those observing these important moments.
Europeans no longer “walking alone”
Across Europe, people are showing unprecedented solidarity in the face of the COVID-19 Coronavirus both in words and deeds since the continent became the epicentre of the pandemic.
To symbolize this renewed spirit of solidarity, 160 European radio stations simultaneously played the song “You?ll never walk alone”, best known as the battle song of the English football team Liverpool.
Protecting human rights amid COVID-19 crisis
As concerns grow about how the coronavirus crisis might threaten human rights around the world, the United Nations is calling on countries to adopt a more cooperative, global and human rights-based approach to the pandemic.
Midwives step up to support pregnant women during pandemic
While nurses and doctors are working on the frontlines to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, other health professionals continue to care for patients who are not infected with the virus. To do so, they have had to adjust how they operate and are confronted with new hurdles. Midwives in particular have had to rethink how they can support pregnant women in a time when, in some countries, they cannot even be in close physical proximity.
"Put women and girls at the centre of efforts to recover from COVID-19"
The COVID-19 pandemic affects everyone, everywhere. But the pandemic is having devastating social and economic consequences for women and girls. Today we are launching a report that shows how COVID-19 could reverse the limited progress that has been made on gender equality and women’s rights – and recommends ways to put women’s leadership and contributions at the heart of resilience and recovery.
UN repeats call for ceasefire as it works to save Middle East from COVID-19
With the coronavirus pandemic threatening further suffering in countries already experiencing conflict in the Middle East, the United Nations is working to stop COVID-19 from taking hold in the war-ravaged region, where humanitarian needs are already enormous.