HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

TUESDAY, 14 APRIL 2020

 
SECRETARY-GENERAL MESSAGE ON MISINFORMATION
The Secretary-General today said in a video message just released that as the world fights the deadly COVID-19 pandemic we are also seeing another pandemic -- the dangerous epidemic of misinformation.
Around the world, people are scared, he said, and they want to know what to do and where to turn to for advice.
The Secretary-General announced a new United Nations Communications Response initiative to flood the Internet with facts and science while countering the growing scourge of misinformation -- a poison that is putting even more lives at risk. 
He called on everyone to unite against this disease by trusting science and journalists who are fact-checking misleading stories. The Secretary-General also called on trust in institutions — grounded in responsive, responsible, evidence-based governance and leadership.
And finally, he called on trust in each other, adding that upholding human rights must be our compass in navigating this crisis.
 
SOLIDARITY FLIGHTS
The first UN “Solidarity Flight” is scheduled to leave Addis Ababa shortly to bring medical supplies and protective equipment to boost COVID-19 response on the African continent. 
The flight is part of a UN initiative to scale up the logistics to facilitate the procurement and distribution of pandemic response supplies. 
Working with the Government of Ethiopia, the World Food Programme has opened up a new hub inside Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport. From there, supplies and equipment and humanitarian workers will be transported by air across Ethiopia and Africa. Medical evacuations will also be facilitated.
A team of 25 World Food Programme aviation and logistics staff are now based at the airport to manage the operations 24 hours a day.
A first cargo flight - coming from another humanitarian logistics hub in the United Arab Emirates – landed in Addis Ababa yesterday. The plane was loaded with supplies from the World Health Organization that are now being prepared for distribution to 32 African countries. 
These flights are a result of the Secretary-General’s work to mobilize the UN’s global supply chain in support of the global efforts to fight the pandemic.
The African Union, through the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) is providing technical support and coordination for the distribution of these supplies.
As part of OCHA’s COVID-19 global humanitarian appeal, the World Food Programme is calling for US$350 million to support common aviation, shipping, storage and transport, as well as engineering services in areas affected by the pandemic.
 
COLOMBIA
This morning, the Security Council was briefed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu.
He told Council members that as in every other country, the COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound impact on Colombia, and the peace process will undoubtedly feel its effects. However, he said it is encouraging to see Colombians finding creative responses to the crisis.
Mr. Ruiz Massieu said the Implementation of the Peace Agreement depends on constant engagement between the parties, as well as key state institutions, civil society organizations, partners from the international community and others, and he added that this continues to happen remotely, given the current circumstances.
The Special Representative added that the UN Mission there has also taken measures in line with our business continuity and contingency plans so that the Country Team is also supporting the Government in its response to the pandemic.
Mr. Ruis Massieu stressed that the first priority continues to be to adopt all necessary measures to protect social leaders, human rights defenders and former combatants, as violence against them continues unabated despite the national quarantine.
Mr. Ruiz Massieu also noted that despite the global ceasefire call, clashes continue between illegal armed groups, and he said he urged them to desist from perpetrating violence.
 
SYRIA
In a statement today, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Imran Riza, said that 25 COVID-19 cases, including the tragic deaths of two people, have been confirmed to date in the country. Having seen the trajectory of other countries, he said that the UN, alongside our partners, are doing everything we can to support a comprehensive, multi-pronged effort to stem the impacts of the pandemic.
In line with the World Health Organization’s global recommendations, the UN is prioritizing support to rapidly enhance laboratory and case investigation capacity across Syria. To this end, WHO has already supported extensive rehabilitation of the Central Public Health Lab in Damascus, trained dozens of laboratory technicians and rapid response team members in testing and sample collection, and procured critical diagnosis equipment, including five polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines and multiple shipments of testing kits.
With these efforts, testing capacity has already quadrupled. In addition, WHO is supporting the training of more laboratory technicians to support three new laboratories in Aleppo, Homs and Lattakia governorates, with testing due to commence soon. This is an important first step towards the Ministry of Health achieving their goal of a working lab in each of Syria’s 14 governorates.
At the same time, the UN is determined, alongside our partners, to keep delivering the humanitarian assistance to Syrians in need, who need it now more than ever. We are working to ensure as little disruption to our range of existing aid programmes as possible.
Whether it’s WFP’s food assistance to 3.5 million Syrians each month, or UNRWA’s support to 438,000 Palestine refugees, mobile health clinics, vaccinations for children, essential protection programmes, education in camps, or support to farmers, humanitarian assistance is being adapted wherever it is possible.
 
AFGHANISTAN
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) urged today greater support for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran in the context of the current pandemic.
UNHCR warned that Afghanistan faces the prospect of overwhelmed medical and social services, with a dramatic increase in Afghans returning home, hundreds of thousands of people living in displacement sites and rising poverty levels. Pakistan and Iran, which host some 90 percent of the world’s 2.7 million Afghan refugees are also experiencing immense strain on their health systems and economies.
UNHCR’s funding appeal of some $315 million required for the Afghan situation is merely 17 percent funded.
 
BANGLADESH
With COVID-19 posing risks to one of the largest refugee camps in the world in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, the Government and its UN partners are working to ensure that there are health systems, services in place for Rohingya refugees and the host community, and that they are ready.
The 35 health care facilities supported by the International Organization for Migration continue to provide essential primary health services, while its partners have trained community health workers and volunteers. More than 110,000 people have been reached so far with messages on how to prevent the spread of the virus.
IOM is helping to procure personal protective equipment and has also sent medical professionals to help in hospitals.
 
CHILE
In Chile, where there have been some 7,200 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the UN team has been closely working with the Government since the beginning of the outbreak, addressing the immediate health issues and the socio-economic impacts.
The Pan-American Health Organization has provided technical assistance and advice to the Ministry of Health and is part of the administration’s committee to plan and respond to the emergency.
The UN Resident Coordinator in the country is working with the Government to protect vulnerable populations.
The UN team will redirect its $1.5 million Joint SDG Fund to boost social protection and inclusion for the elderly. The UN team in Chile is also helping homeless people and people with disabilities.
 
MEXICO
The UN Migration Agency today launched a campaign in Mexico through social networks with the aim of sensitizing citizens about the importance of avoiding xenophobia and hate speech towards migrants during the COVID emergency.
The initiative, entitled “COVID 19 does not discriminate, why do you?” highlights incidents of misinformation that spread fear. The campaign aims to reach populations in communities where there are migrant shelters, safe houses, or temporary camps for people on the move.
 
CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT
The Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), Virginia Gamba, has welcomed the effective implementation of ceasefires by parties to [the] conflict following the global call for peace made by the Secretary-General on 23 March.
Ms. Gamba urged all parties to push further their commitment to peace by putting an immediate end to the recruitment and use of children as a key component of a ceasefire.
 
REFUGEE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, together with the Council of Europe today encouraged Member States to benefit from the support that refugee health professionals can provide during the COVID-19 response.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, noted that several States in Europe have publicly appealed for refugee health professionals to join in national responses to the virus. He emphasized that the UN agency fully supports such initiatives whereby health professionals can show their solidarity and give back to the communities sheltering them.
UNHCR is engaging with partners to find innovative ways to reach out to refugee communities, identify willing health practitioners, and facilitate access to online tests.
 
MEASLES
UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and its partners, in the Measles & Rubella Initiative have warned that, as COVID-19 continues to spread, more than 117 million children in 37 countries may miss out on the life-saving measles vaccine.
Immunization campaigns in 24 countries have already been delayed, with more to be postponed.
 
CYCLONE HAROLD
The UN Humanitarian Chief, Mark Lowcock, yesterday announced the release of $2.5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to get lifesaving aid to thousands of people affected by Tropical Cyclone Harold in Vanuatu.
The cyclone made landfall in Vanuatu on 6 April on the island of Espiritu Santo, before hitting the Solomon Islands, Fiji and Tonga. Initial assessments suggest that as much as 90 percent of the population in Sanma, the most affected province of Vanuatu, have lost their homes.
More than half of all schools and almost a quarter of health centres were also damaged. Crops have been destroyed and many communities are now cut off from help because of flooding and the destruction of roads.
The CERF funds will enable UN agencies and humanitarian organizations to get safe drinking water, food, shelter, and healthcare where it is most needed.