HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
WEDNESDAY, 06 MAY 2020
SECRETARY-GENERAL/PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Today, we released the Secretary-General’s new Policy Brief on COVID-19 and persons with disabilities.
The brief shows that the world’s one billion people with disabilities are at greater risk of contracting the virus, developing more severe health conditions and dying from the virus.
They also may experience barriers to implement basic protection measures such as handwashing and maintaining social distance, as they often rely on physical contact and support.
In a video message to launch the Policy Brief, the Secretary-General emphasized that we must guarantee the equal rights of people with disabilities to access healthcare and lifesaving procedures during this pandemic.
The Secretary-General also urges governments to place people with disabilities at the focus of COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.
SECURITY COUNCIL/BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
This morning, in an open meeting, the Security Council heard a briefing by video conference by the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Valentin Inzko.
COVID-19/HUMANITARIAN PLAN
Tomorrow morning, Mark Lowcock, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, will virtually launch the updated COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan.
You will recall that the Global Humanitarian Response Plan launched on March 25th as the primary vehicle for raising resources for the most vulnerable populations in the most fragile countries.
Mr. Lowcock for this update will be joined by the High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi; the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), David Beasley; the Executive Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergencies, Mike Ryan; and the President and CEO of Oxfam America, Abby Maxman.
We expect an embargoed copy of the updated Plan to be made available today. UN-accredited journalists can submit questions to members of the panel in advance through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This event will be webcast on UN WebTV.
BAY OF BENGAL
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Organization on Migration (IOM) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) released a joint statement today on the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.
Five years from the so-called boat crisis, in which thousands of refugees and migrants in distress at sea were denied life-saving care and support, the agencies say they are alarmed that a similar tragedy may be unfolding once more.
The agency said they are deeply concerned by reports that boats full of vulnerable people are again adrift in the same waters, unable to come ashore, and without access to urgently needed food, water and of course, medical assistance.
There is no easy solution to the irregular maritime movements of refugees and migrants, but States in the region must uphold the commitments of the 2016 Bali Declaration as well as the ASEAN pledges to protect the most vulnerable and to leave no one behind.
TRAFFICKING VICTIMS
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) today released new analysis that shows how measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus are exposing victims of human trafficking to further exploitation and limiting their access to essential services.
UNODC said that lockdowns, travel restrictions, work limitations and cuts in resources are having a negative effect on the lives of these already vulnerable people – before, during and even after their ordeal. At the same time, new opportunities for organized crime to profit from the crisis are also emerging. UNODC calls on countries to keep shelters and hotlines open, safeguard access to justice and prevent more vulnerable people from falling into the hands of organized crime networks.
COVID-19/AVIATION SAFETY
The UN International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) today released a new publication aimed at helping countries to address the aviation safety risks arising due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Produced specifically for national aviation regulators and civil aviation authorities, the new handbook outlines aspects to consider at different stages of the pandemic. Its focus includes assessment and prioritization of risks based on collection and analysis of data, and the application of safety management principles.
COVID-19/ECUADOR
In Ecuador, the UN and our partners have launched a $46.4 million plan to support the Government in responding to the virus. Nearly 32,000 cases have been confirmed, with more than 1,500 deaths.
The UN is focusing on the most vulnerable people and is providing support in areas including water, food, education, shelter, and the prevention of violence against women.
Working with partners we have now supplied nearly 80,000 items – such as surgical masks, gloves and hand sanitizer – for front-line health workers. Epidemiology and emergency specialists, among other personnel, are providing technical assistance.
The World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization on Migration (IOM) are also providing food vouchers to displaced people.
In the capital, Quito, and in the hard-hit city of Guayaquil, the UN is helping to distribute thousands of food kits to those most in need.
COVID-19/BRAZIL/ECUADOR/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
In Ecuador and in Brazil, we are working with national and local authorities to curb the spread of the virus among indigenous peoples. This is especially true in the Amazon and other regions.
In Brazil, according to official figures, there are 139 confirmed cases and eight deaths among indigenous peoples.
The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) is supporting the national plan to curb the spread of the virus, including boosting surveillance of severe respiratory and flu syndromes, training health teams, and conducting outreach in several languages. Working with the Ministry of Health, PAHO is monitoring cases of the virus among indigenous peoples and supporting the flu vaccination campaign.
Also in Brazil, UN-Women is monitoring the impact of the pandemic on indigenous women.
It is working for their inclusion in the decision-making process related to the pandemic, as well as ensuring adequate health care. It is focusing on pregnant women and prevention of gender-based violence.
In Ecuador, the UN team is also supporting authorities to curb the spread of the disease among indigenous communities.
The team has purchased chlorine for water treatment and disinfection of health facilities and the UN is supporting a radio campaign in both Spanish and Kichwa to reach indigenous communities.
COVID-19/BARBADOS AND EASTERN CARIBBEAN
Our UN colleagues covering Barbados and countries in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States will launch a $29.7 million appeal this afternoon to combat the staggering impacts of the virus in ten countries and territories.
These are fragile economies, which are highly dependent on tourism and extremely vulnerable to climate change. They are also bracing for another hurricane season.
The new plan will focus on boosting the economies, creating jobs, strengthening health systems and improving distance education.
This includes access to equipment, connectivity for vulnerable children and child social protection.
It will also endeavour to prevent and support victims of gender-based violence, with regional social protection schemes, like cash transfers, to buffer the impacts of the virus.
The Resident Coordinator, Didier Trebucq, said that it cannot be business as usual in the Caribbean Small Island Developing States. He said that the pandemic is an unprecedented human crisis challenging social and economic development.
The Caribbean has never before needed the level of assistance that it requires today, he added.
Mr. Trebucq will host the online launch today with Fekita-moeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.
They will be joined by the Prime Ministers of Antigua and Barbuda, as well as the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, along with the acting Prime Minister of Barbados.
COVID/19/ CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
In the Central African Republic, the Humanitarian Coordinator, Denise Brown, has allocated $12 million from the Humanitarian Fund to support emergency response under the Humanitarian Plan, including $3 million to cover COVID-19 projects.
The allocation will enable us and our humanitarian partners to implement priority projects in health, water, hygiene and sanitation, camp management, shelter as well as non-food items, food security, nutrition, protection and logistics sectors.
With 94 confirmed cases of the virus as of yesterday, the Central African Republic is facing increasing needs within a context of extremely limited national capacities to detect and respond to the pandemic.
In addition to this, the humanitarian situation in the country continues to deteriorate due to conflict and increasing political tensions.
The 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan seeks $401 million, but it is only 28 per cent funded so far.
Also in the Central African Republic, our Peacekeeping Mission there continues also to support the Government and local communities with the fight against the pandemic.
Together with the government, the Mission organized a training session for media professionals, including women journalists, on crisis communication and reporting in the context of the pandemic.
The UN Mission also supported the training of 75 young community sensitizers on virus prevention, including 30 young people with speaking and hearing-impediments.
In order to facilitate access to health information and to help combat rumours and misinformation, the Peacekeeping Mission also distributed more than 500 radio sets and is distributing 50,000 solar-powered radios to local communities.
They also supported in the installation of water pumps at the capital’s main hospital and helped reinforce health checks at the M’Poko International Airport, in Bangui.
YEMEN/WOMEN
The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) today called for $59 million to urgently protect the health and safety of women and girls in Yemen, where a woman dies every two hours giving birth.
For every woman who dies during childbirth, another twenty suffer injuries, infections or disabilities that are preventable.
UNFPA warned that 48,000 women could die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth due to severe funding shortages and the possible closure of reproductive health facilities, amidst rising risks posed by the current pandemic.
The funding would provide lifesaving reproductive healthcare and women’s protection services until the end of this year.
An additional $24 million is needed for the COVID-19 response plan to protect health workers and women and girls accessing reproductive health services in the conflict-affected country.
Right now, only 20 per cent of health facilities provide maternal and child health services due to staff shortages, lack of supplies or damage due to the conflict.
