Latest stories
United Nations helps travel industry reopen safely and responsibly
As COVID-19 has brought tourism to a complete standstill, the United Nations is working closely with international organizations, Governments and the private sector to support the responsible and timely recovery of the sector, on which millions of small businesses and jobs depend.
UN Vienna guided tours go virtual
At the United Nations Headquarters in Vienna, amid the murmur of diplomats, UN officials and staff conversing in conference rooms, offices and hallways, you’d sometimes hear the shriek of a 1st grader excited to pose with a UN flag during a guided tour.
Supply Chain and COVID-19: UN rushes to move vital equipment to frontlines
As COVID-19 spreads to countries with poor health systems, the United Nations and its partners are racing against time to ensure that life-saving personal protective equipment and other supplies reach frontline health workers in need. What has come to be known as the “Solidarity Flight” is part of the UN’s response to the pandemic, helping to bolster broken supply chains.
Covid-19 awareness strikes the perfect note
“Taking the fight to COVID-19 is all about sharing the right information about what we can all do to help halt the spread of infection. But how do you do this in Senegal, where there are more than a dozen languages? In a bid to find a creative and reliable solution, the UN information team in Dakar has joined forces with musicians who have a loyal following in the country and the wider West African diaspora. In our latest report on how the UN is helping communities cope with the new coronavirus, we talk to Damian Cardona, Director of the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Senegal.
The Power of Sport During a Pandemic: Training at Home with Japanese Athletes
“What you need is a simple towel,” says Mitsui Risako, bronze medalist at the Rio 2016 Olympics in artistic swimming. She is not talking about after you get out of the water, though. She is one of Japan’s many top athletes who are sharing their training-at-home regimes, advising cocooned fans – or anyone following common hashtags like #SportsAssistYou #Stayhome, and #Staystrong – about ways to stay fit and healthy.
"Mental health services are an essential part of all government responses to COVID-19"
Mental health is at the core of our humanity. It enables us to lead rich and fulfilling lives and to participate in our communities. But the COVID-19 virus is not only attacking our physical health; it is also increasing psychological suffering.
Learning from the past: UN draws lessons from Ebola, other crises to fight COVID-19
From the eradication of smallpox to the fight against Ebola, global efforts to end infectious diseases evolved over time. But there are timeless lessons the United Nations can draw from past experiences to fight the novel coronavirus.
Brazil’s favelas organize to fight Covid-19
Gizele Martins was born and raised in the Complexo da Maré, a group of 16 favelas (slums) with around 140,000 inhabitants in Rio de Janeiro. A journalist and community activist, she helped to create the Mare Mobilization Front to prepare for the arrival of the new coronavirus.
Stories over the phone connect visually impaired during quarantine
The lockdown is a particularly challenging time for people with disabilities. Among the many initiatives emerging, Belgian association Ligue Braille is helping blind and partially sighted people cope with isolation by reading them stories over the phone and sending audio books in the post.
COVID-19: UN counters pandemic-related hate and xenophobia
As instances of hate speech, stigma, discrimination and xenophobia continue to rise as a result of COVID-19, the United Nations and its partners are working to ensure that solidarity prevails during the pandemic.
Children keeping active with Hello Kitty and friends
During the COVID-19 pandemic, children around the world are facing the same enormous challenge – not being able to go out to play. Do your children need good exercise with fun to release stress of being cooped up inside and keep fit? Hello Kitty can help!
UN supports routine – yet vital – health services while fighting COVID-19
During the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak more people died from measles, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis due to health system failures than from Ebola. To avoid a similar outcome, the United Nations is working to ensure that essential health services, including vaccination campaigns, remain accessible during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lebanese journalists face increased risks covering protests during pandemic
With the novel coronavirus exacerbating already dire socio-economic conditions in Lebanon, journalists there find themselves facing double the work. Even as Lebanon’s government grapples with a deteriorating economy and financial crisis on one hand, and the COVID-19 pandemic on the other, popular demonstrations have resumed. Many of those protesting are ignoring measures aimed at guarding against the spread of the coronavirus. Reporters are caught in the middle.
"We must act now to strengthen the immunity of our societies against the virus of hate"
COVID-19 does not care who we are, where we live, what we believe or about any other distinction. We need every ounce of solidarity to tackle it together. Yet the pandemic continues to unleash a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering.
COVID-19: UN harnesses the power of culture to inspire hope and solidarity
At a time when billions of people are separated from one another, the voices of artists - and the role of cultural and creative industries – is being leveraged to raise awareness and foster solidarity in the face of COVID-19 pandemic. The United Nations is working with and supporting artists to use their talents and diverse forms of cultural expression to engage people in the pandemic response.