RACISM
First off, you’re aware that there was a [Human Rights Council] session in Geneva today on racism.
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, addressed the Human Rights Council today in its session on racism. She noted that, as the Secretary-General said, “The position of the United Nations on racism is crystal clear: this scourge violates the United Nations Charter and debases our core values.”
The Secretary-General, she noted, has called for dismantling racist structures and confronting the systemic ills of institutions. In the UN, he has launched a one-year process to address these grave staff concerns.
The most recent trigger for the recent protests, the Deputy Secretary-General recalled, was the killing of George Floyd in an appalling act of police brutality. But the violence spans history and borders alike, across the globe.
She said that the United Nations has a duty to respond to the anguish that has been felt by so many for so long. Equal rights are enshrined in our founding Charter. Just as we fought apartheid years ago, she said, so must we fight the hatred, oppression and humiliation today.
D.R. CONGO/HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
Also today, in Geneva, the Human Rights Council looked at the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In her opening remarks, Michelle Bachelet, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighted progress achieved in the country to open up political space. She also noted measures taken to end corruption and embezzlement of public resources.
Ms. Bachelet expressed deep concern over the deterioration of several situations of armed conflict in the country. She said that around 1,300 civilians have been killed in conflicts between armed groups and Government forces over the past eight months.
The High Commissioner urged the Government to intensify efforts to end the increasingly brutal attacks and promote peaceful coexistence. She also said that it is essential to extend State institutions and services throughout the country in order to stop attacks by armed groups and ensure respect for rights, including the right to life.
SECRETARY-GENERAL/CHINA-AFRICA SUMMIT ON COVID-19
The Secretary-General made remarks today by video to the China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19.
He said that, as COVID-19 spreads around the world and across the continent, Africa has responded swiftly. As of now, reported cases are lower than feared, but he warned that much hangs in the balance.
The Secretary-General cautioned that the pandemic is a grave threat to Africa’s progress, potentially aggravating long-standing inequalities and heightening hunger, malnutrition and vulnerability to disease.
He stressed that it is essential that Africa receives the solidarity and support it needs.
In responding to COVID-19 and all our current global challenges – from climate change to lawlessness in cyberspace – we require unity and solidarity, he said. He added that no country is safe and healthy until all countries are safe and healthy.
SOUTH SUDAN
In South Sudan, the UN Mission there tells us that it is concerned by reports of renewed clashes and increased tensions near Pibor.
In the past few days, many civilians have escaped reported violence in Gumuruk in the Jonglei region.
The Mission has reinforced its base in Pibor so it can carry out extra patrols and provide security for civilians. The Mission is also in contact with the leaders of the groups involved in the fighting and is urging them to restore calm and come together for mediation and reconciliation.
Over the past five months, violence has escalated in Jonglei, resulting in the death and injury of many civilians, as well as communities being displaced and homes being destroyed. Not only is the fighting causing immense harm to civilians, but it also risks pulling organized armed groups into violence that could unravel the fragile peace agreement.
The UN Mission urges the unity government to protect all citizens and to appoint governors in 10 states so they can work to prevent further conflict and build peace.
YEMEN
The Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, Lise Grande, has expressed her condolences to the families of civilians killed in Monday’s attack on a vehicle in Shaada District, Sa’ada Governorate, in the north. Initial field reports indicate that at least 12 civilians, including four children, lost their lives.
Fighting has continued in Yemen despite the Secretary-General’s call in March for a global ceasefire. More than 800 civilian casualties have been reported due to fighting since January, with several incidents involving multiple civilian casualties recorded since the end of May.
In addition, Ms. Grande warned that humanitarian funding is running out, affecting millions of people who depend on the food aid and the health services that we provide.
A funding deficit of more than $1 billion remains, following the 2 June High-Level Pledging Event for Yemen, when donors pledged $1.35 billion, out of the $2.41 billion needed for essential humanitarian activities through the year.
SYRIA
Turning to Syria, our humanitarian colleagues say that they are increasingly concerned about rapidly rising food prices in a country where more than 11 million women, children and men urgently need humanitarian assistance.
Food prices have more than doubled in the last year, rising by 133 per cent across the country.
According to the World Food Programme (WFP), 9.3 million people across Syria are food insecure, an increase of 1.4 million people in just the last six months. Another 2.2 million more people risk becoming food insecure.
Food prices have soared in the past few weeks with the informal exchange rate rapidly deteriorating.
In May, the cost of a standard food basket increased on average by 11 per cent compared to April, a number which had already increased by 16 per cent from March.
Humanitarian organizations, including WFP through food assistance, are addressing needs at a massive scale.
From January to March, the UN and partner organizations have delivered assistance to an average of 6.2 million people each month, including lifesaving food for 4.5 million people across Syria’s 14 governates.
COVID-19/SERBIA
Turning now to the UN system, and its efforts related to COVID-19. In Serbia, there are more than 12,300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 250 deaths.
Nine UN agencies, led by the Resident Coordinator, Françoise Jacob, and guided by WHO, are supporting the country’s health response, with special focus on the most vulnerable groups.
The UN team has mobilized $26 million, which has been used to purchase medical supplies and is also being used for logistics, including flights to deliver life-saving items.
The UN team is also supporting Serbia’s efforts to communicate on COVID-19, reaching some six million people. Messages have been tailored for different groups, such as refugees, asylum seekers and people at risk of statelessness. Some 45,000 people – including women, youth, the Romani people, persons with disabilities, and the elderly – have received hygiene kits and humanitarian aid from the UN, with the Red Cross and NGOs.
The UN has also gathered 7,000 volunteers to support local governments’ efforts to prevent the spread of the virus. Through a UNICEF-backed online platform, 500 adolescents are offering peer support to cope with the pandemic.
The UN, together with the World Bank and the European Union, is supporting the Government to assess the social and economic impacts of the pandemic.
COVID-19/DESAMETHASONE
Some related positive news: The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed yesterday the initial clinical trial results from the United Kingdom showing that dexamethasone, a corticosteroid, can be lifesaving for patients who are critically ill with COVID-19.
According to preliminary findings shared with the WHO, for patients on ventilators, the treatment was shown to reduce mortality by one third. For patients requiring only oxygen, mortality was cut by about one fifth.
The benefit was only seen in patients who are seriously ill with the virus. The benefit was not observed in patients with milder disease.
WHO said that it is looking forward to the full data analysis of the trial in the coming days. The agency added that it will coordinate analysis to increase the overall understanding of this intervention.
The World Health Organization clinical guidance will be updated to reflect how and when the drug should be used.
CHILDREN
Universal child benefits, such as unconditional cash payments or tax transfers, are crucial to fight child poverty, yet they are only available in one out of every ten countries worldwide.
That’s according to a new report published today by UNICEF and the Overseas Development Institute.
The report says that universal cash benefits for children in middle-income countries cost just 1 per cent of GDP and would lead to a 20 per cent decline in poverty across the entire population.
UNICEF’s Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, said that, now more than ever, as the economic fallout of COVID-19 threatens to roll back years of progress in reducing poverty, universal child benefits can be a lifeline. She added that they can protect vulnerable families from deepening levels of poverty and deprivation, and can save countries from catastrophic societal and economic impacts.
DESERTIFICATION
Today is the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. This year’s theme is ‘Food. Feed. Fibre.” and focuses on changing public attitudes to the leading driver of desertification and land degradation: humanity’s relentless production and consumption. Land degradation currently affects some 3.2 billion people and 70 per cent of the world’s land has been transformed by human activity.
In his message, the Secretary-General said that the health of humanity depends on the health of the planet, and he calls for scaling up land restoration and nature-based solutions for climate action and the benefit of future generations.
