HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STÉPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
FRIDAY, 17 APRIL 2020
COVID-19/DEBT
Today we released the Secretary-General’s policy brief on debt and COVID-19. It shows that the global pandemic-induced contraction in economic activity is having disastrous consequences, including on debt sustainability.
The brief outlines that this is not limited to low-income countries. Middle-income countries, home to 75 percent of the world’s population and 62 percent of the world’s poor, are also highly vulnerable to a debt crisis, lost market access and capital outflows.
While in the best-case scenario, recovery in developed countries’ economies may start by the end of 2020 and reverberate to developing countries, it is also possible that this may be the start of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.
Apart from dealing with the immediate pandemic, additional resources will also be needed to stimulate demand, regenerate jobs and restore supply capacity to pre-crisis levels, let alone to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
COVID-19/SECRETARY-GENERAL
Also today, at the World Bank/IMF virtual Spring Meetings, the Secretary-General addressed the high-level event on ‘Mobilizing with Africa.”
In his remarks, he underscored that during this crisis the African Union and the African continent have shown unity and leadership – two of the most scarce commodities at the present time.
The Secretary-General warned that, as with the climate crisis, the African continent could end up suffering the most from a crisis that is not of its making.
The Secretary-General added that to help address the devastating economic and social consequences, he has been asking since the beginning for a comprehensive global response package amounting to a double-digit percentage of global Gross Domestic Product.
He pointed out that alleviating crushing debt is absolutely crucial and welcomed G20 steps, including the suspension of debt service payments for all IDA countries and Least Developed Countries.
For the Secretary-General, that’s a start. But the severity of the crisis demands more.
Guterres also emphasized the need to focus on the most vulnerable and to ensure that the rights of all people are protected.
His remarks, as well as the policy brief have been shared with you.
COVID-19/FOOD SECURITY
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, spoke this morning by video to the Group of Friends on Food Security and Nutrition.
She told them that, in the face of the current pandemic, it will not take much to tip millions more people into food insecurity. An economic shock on the scale we are experiencing presents a real and present danger.
She said that we must act now, in a coherent and coordinated way, if we are to prevent COVID-19 from resulting in widespread hunger and food insecurity.
She added that, as we work on the immediate response to the pandemic, we must seize the opportunity to build back better by considering the complex links that underpin our food systems. Now is the time to build the sustainable, resilient and inclusive food systems that we need to achieve the 2030 Agenda and create a better future for all on a healthy planet.
Her remarks are also with you.
COVID-19/FAO/AFRICA
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the African Union and international partners yesterday sent out a joint declaration in which they committed to supporting access to food and nutrition for the most vulnerable in Africa. They described the food and agriculture system as an essential service that must continue to operate during periods of lockdown, curfew and other containment measures.
More on this on FAO’s website.
COVID-19/UNICEF
In a statement issued today, the head of UNICEF, Henrietta Fore, reiterated the Secretary-General’s call on warring parties to lay down their weapons to confront the pandemic to protect the 250 million children around the world living in areas under conflict.
A global ceasefire, she said, would protect children from being killed, maimed or forced from their homes by conflict. It would also stop attacks on vital infrastructure like health centres and water and sanitation systems and would open space for vulnerable populations to access essential services like healthcare that are key to stopping a pandemic.
Her full statement is online.
COVID-19/LGBTI PEOPLE
The UN Human Rights Office today published a new guidance note for States and other stakeholders on COVID-19 and the human rights of LGBTI people.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said that States need to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people do not face discrimination or fear retribution for seeking healthcare amid the pandemic.
The guidance identifies major concerns and sets out key actions. These include ensuring that measures introduced to lessen the economic impact of the crisis take LGBTI people fully into account as they are more likely to be unemployed and live in poverty than the general population.
LIBYA
In Libya, hostilities in and around Tripoli have continued to heavily impact civilians. A humanitarian pause is urgently required. The UN Support Mission in Libya reports that at least 131 civilian casualties (including 64 deaths) were documented in the first three months this year.
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Libya has increased to 49, including one death. Most of the cases are concentrated in Benghazi, Misrata and Tripoli.
We along with our humanitarian partners are providing technical support to strengthen national surveillance and early warning and support the establishment of isolation wards in selected hospitals around the country.
In the last month, nearly 19,000 medical interventions were provided and 53 public health facilities were supported with services and commodities
And the International Organization for Migration (IOM) also expresses grave concern for the fate of hundreds of migrants who returned to Libya by the coast guard this year who are now unaccounted for. Despite multiple requests, Libyan authorities have not yet provided any clear accounting as to the whereabouts of these people, and why they were taken to unofficial detention facilities.
COVID-19/DRC
As we mentioned earlier this week, parts of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo are experiencing renewed violence. This morning, the UN Refugee Agency warned that this could have terrible consequences, as the country is preparing to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DRC already has the largest internally displaced population in Africa, with more than five million people uprooted by conflict. There are also half a million refugees from neighbouring countries.
UNHCR is strengthening its regular health and sanitization activities in camps, sites and transit centres, where possible. The current prevention measures include temperature screening at entry points. The agency has also installed some 365 handwashing stations and carried out an initial distribution of more than 23,000 soap bars.
The agency also continues its advocacy for equal access to refugees and displaced people in the national health systems being put in place to fight COVID-19.
COVID-19/INDONESIA
In Indonesia, the UN is helping to secure ventilators and other essential medical supplies to fight the pandemic.
According to the Government, there have been more than 5,500 cases and nearly 500 deaths in the country.
More on this on IOM’s website.
LOCUST
In the Greater Horn of Africa, the Food and Agriculture Organization and humanitarian partners are continuing round and aerial control operations, including the treating of over 200,000 hectares in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.
Desert locusts continue to pose a major threat to food security and livelihoods in the Greater Horn of Africa as more swarms form and mature in northern and central Kenya, southern Ethiopia and Somalia, all coinciding with the beginning of the long rains and the planting season.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that if the swarms are not contained, impacts on crops and forage will drive up hunger in areas already facing very high levels of food insecurity.
As of yesterday, $116.3 million had been pledged toward the FAO locust appeal seeking $153 million to support the response in 10 countries.
COVID-19/NEPAL
In Nepal, 16 COVID-19 cases have been officially confirmed so far, and the UN country team there is working to address immediate health needs and the short- and long-term recovery to mitigate the impacts of the lockdown.
We have launched a Preparedness and Response Plan which required $38 million for humanitarian, as well as social and economic recovery needs. This Plan has been presented to national and international partners and will be updated shortly to include the Government’s needs.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with the Government on securing equipment, surveillance and laboratory capacity.
And we are also working with the Government to answer people’s questions about prevention and care, and is also addressing rumors, disinformation and stigma, while promoting the prevention of domestic violence. Young volunteers from seven provinces have been mobilized to roll out social media campaigns produced by the UN team.
COVID-19/PANAMA
In Panama, the UN Migration Agency is working with the government to mitigate the threats that migrants face, as well as the overall risks to public safety, posed by the pandemic.
Panama receives close to 25,000 migrants every year, who are entering mostly via the dense, Darién Gap wilderness that serves as the border between Panamá and Colombia.
UKRAINE
In a statement we issued yesterday evening, the Secretary-General welcomed the release and exchange of prisoners related to the conflict in the eastern part of the country.
The Secretary-General said that he hopes that this important humanitarian action, ahead of Orthodox Easter, will serve as a positive step towards more progress, including a permanent ceasefire, in line with his global appeal, as well as further disengagement of forces and unimpeded humanitarian access across the contact line.
That statement is of course online.
DAMIEN CORRIGAN
Today, we have to end on a sad note.
One of our veteran and very talented UNTV colleagues, Damien Corrigan passed away last night.
You will know him and have seen Damien manning the cameras at the stakeout and photo-ops ensuring that you have the images of the momentous events that take place in the UN building.
Damian had 35 years of work at the UN under his belt having covered every Secretary-General from Perez de Cuellar onwards.
He was a wizard at the teleprompter, where he handled just about every head of state during the General Assembly. He had a stalwart command of the lens, and unflappable nature, not to mention amazing expertise at the NY Times crossword which he finished every day. He will be greatly missed by all of us in these halls.
Our sincere condolences go to his family in Ireland, as well as his wife Jen and his children Jack and Kirstin and all of his colleagues in TV production who work tirelessly behind the scenes, particularly in this very difficult period.
