COVID-19
In a video message issued yesterday evening, the Secretary-General said that, to address the COVID-19 virus, we must be safe by taking simple steps to stay healthy, be smart by staying informed, and be kind and support one another.
The Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Operational Support, Atul Khare, briefed Member States in an informal meeting on COVID-19 of the General Assembly and the Econmic and Social Council (ECOSOC) this morning.
Yesterday, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, told reporters in Geneva that, now that COVID-19 has a foothold in so many countries, the threat of a pandemic has become very real, but he also stressed that it would be the first pandemic in history that could be controlled.
Dr. Tedros said that the great advantage we have is that the decisions we all make – as governments, businesses, communities, families and individuals – can influence the trajectory of this epidemic. He noted that we need to remember that with decisive, early action, we can slow down the virus and prevent infections. Among those who are infected, most will recover.
Dr. Tedros said that WHO has shipped supplies of personal protective equipment to 57 countries. It is preparing to ship supplies to a further 28, with lab supplies having been sent to 120 countries.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) today launched an initial appeal for $33 million to boost the preparedness, prevention, and response to address the public health needs of refugees prompted by COVID-19.
The High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said that, to date and based on available evidence, there have been no reports of COVID-19 infections among refugees and asylum seekers, but that the virus can affect anyone and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that the global response includes all people.
For its part, UNESCO said today that one in five students worldwide is staying away from school due to the COVID-19 crisis and an additional one in four is being kept out of institutions of higher education. According to UNESCO data released today, the crisis is now impacting close to 363 million learners worldwide, from the pre-primary to tertiary level, including 57.8 million students in higher education. Fifteen countries have ordered nationwide school closures and 14 have implemented localized closures, spanning Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America.
Also today, UNESCO convened a global videoconference of higher education officials to step up the emergency response and share strategies to minimize learning disruption worldwide. Seventy-two countries were represented, including 27 education ministers and 37 senior representatives. UNESCO also announced the creation of a UNESCO-COVID19 Emergency Task Force that will support national responses and share effective policy responses with a focus on the most vulnerable countries. UNESCO has published a curated list of freely accessible learning applications and platforms for use by parents, teachers and learners, as well as school systems.
Regarding UN Headquarters in New York, out of an abundance of caution and following the decision to reduce the number of staff present in the UN Secretariat, it has been decided to close the complex to the general public and to temporarily suspend all guided tours until further notice. This will take effect this evening at 8:00 p.m., New York time.
As the Secretary-General has said, the health and safety of staff is a matter of his utmost priority and concern. The United Nations will continue to monitor the situation closely and further measures may be taken as circumstances evolve.
 
SUDAN
In a statement issued yesterday evening, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the attack in Khartoum on the convoy of the Prime Minister of the Sudan, H.E. Abdalla Hamdok. 
The Secretary-General reiterated that such attacks are unacceptable and calls for the perpetrators to be held accountable.
The Secretary-General reaffirmed the solidarity and unwavering support of the United Nations to the Sudan.
 
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
In a statement issued yesterday afternoon, the Secretary‑General strongly condemned the killing of a colleague serving with the United Nations stabilization mission (MINUSCA) in Ndélé, Central African Republic, allegedly by the Front Populaire pour la Renaissance de Centrafrique (FPRC) combatants. He expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the victim.
The Secretary‑General called on the Central African authorities to spare no effort in identifying and swiftly bringing to justice the perpetrators of this killing.
The Secretary-General reaffirmed his support to the leadership and personnel of MINUSCA, and commends their tireless efforts to protect civilians and stabilize the Central African Republic.
 
COLOMBIA
Yesterday evening, the Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Iván Duque Márquez, President of Colombia. They discussed the importance of the comprehensive implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement and effective actions to improve security for local communities, human rights defenders and former combatants. The Secretary-General welcomed Colombia’s support for UN reforms and in that context, the successful conclusion of negotiations with Colombia on a new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework through which the organization's strong support for peace implementation will continue.
 
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
The Deputy Secretary-General will be returning to New York on Thursday, 12 March, following her ongoing trip to Papua New Guinea. The Deputy Secretary-General is no longer going to be traveling to Bangladesh.
Yesterday, the Deputy Secretary-General visited Hela and Southern Highlands in Papua New Guinea. The ongoing Highlands Joint Programme aims to support the Papua New Guinea Government and communities in addressing the urgent need for development and peacebuilding in the spirit of leaving no one behind.
 
SYRIA
The UN remains deeply concerned for the safety and protection of millions of civilians in northwest Syria following more than three months of violence in the area.
While a Russian-Turkish ceasefire agreement now in effect has reduced the level of hostilities overall, shelling was reported on Monday along the frontlines in a few locations, including around Atareb in Aleppo.
Since 1 December, some 960,000 people - the vast majority of them women and children - were displaced by the violence. Many of them remain without adequate shelter and exposed to the elements.
The UN continues to scale up its response, including protection, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene. The UN sent 927 trucks in February and 1,227 trucks in January, carrying life-saving assistance for millions of people in northwest.
The UN urges all parties to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law, and to ensure safe and sustained humanitarian access to people affected by the crisis.
 
IRAQ
The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, and the Head of the United Nations Investigative Team to promote accountability for crimes committed by Da’esh/ISIL in Iraq (UNITAD), Karim Khan, praised religious leaders in Iraq for endorsing an Interfaith Statement on the Victims of ISIL.
The statement followed extensive engagement with religious authorities by UNITAD, which continued during Mr. Dieng’s visit to Iraq between 1–6 March. The statement is the first time Iraqi religious leaders have formally endorsed a common statement on the need for justice and the rights of victims and survivors of Da’esh.
In the Statement, religious leaders repudiate and condemn the violence of Da’esh as completely contrary to their respective faiths. It also underscores that members of all religions across Iraq have been impacted by the crimes of Da’esh and that all survivors must be supported in their efforts to continue their lives within their communities.
 
NICARAGUA
More than 100,000 people have fled reported persecution and human rights abuses in Nicaragua over the past two years, the UN Refugee Agency said today.
Nicaraguan students, human rights defenders, journalists and farmers continue to flee their country at an average rate of 4,000 people every month.
Costa Rica hosts two-thirds of all Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers, followed by Panama, Europe and Mexico.
UNHCR has provided support to Costa Rica to streamline refugee status determination procedures and allow access to the public health care system to the most vulnerable asylum seekers. UNHCR is also providing health care, psychological support, shelter and food assistance to those fleeing the country.