Development Health Advice 

Iraq: Top UN official calls on political leaders to confront COVID-19 pandemic and unite

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the country, issued a message on Thursday in which she also urged citizens to support Government efforts to halt further spread of the disease. “The people of Iraq have overcome such hardship in the past that I am confident they can weather this storm with solidarity and resolve. It is my sincere… Read More
Development Health Advice 

Debt relief milestone in Somalia, as World Bank, IMF, call for global payment suspension in light of COVID-19 

James Swan, Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Somalia (UNSOM), said that by reaching the so-called “decision point” for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries’ Initiative (HIPC), Somalia has passed an historic milestone on its path to peace and prosperity.  “Achievement of the HIPC decision point is a major step forward for Somalia’s economic progress, allowing… Read More
Development Health Advice 

UN launches major humanitarian appeal to keep COVID-19 from ‘circling back around the globe’

At a joint virtual press briefing, Secretary-General António Guterres, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Mark Lowcock, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Henrietta Fore and World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, launched a $2 billion coordinated global humanitarian response plan, to fight COVID-19 in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries in a bid to protect the millions most at… Read More
Development Health Advice 

G-20 summit provides chance to rally strongly against coronavirus threat: UN chief

In a letter to the members of the Group of 20 industralized powers (G-20), Antonio Guterres welcomed their decision to convene an emergency virtual summit on the pandemic, which has already affected health, education and economies worldwide. “COVID-19 will require a response like none before — a ‘war-time’ plan in times of human crisis”, he wrote on Monday. “The G-20… Read More
Development Health Advice 

COVID-19: Lockdown across India, in line with WHO guidance

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s order for the country’s 1.3 billion people to stay home, is an escalation of the 07:00 – 21:00 “Janata curfew” introduced on March 22, and it comes a day after the government grounded all domestic flights. Mr. Modi reportedly declared that the lockdown applies to “every district, every lane, every village”, and warned that “If you… Read More
Development Health Advice 

Water access critical to beating back COVID-19 spread in slum areas

UN-Habitat said the impacts of the new coronavirus disease could be considerably higher on the urban poor living in slums, where overcrowding also makes it difficult to follow other recommended measures such as social distancing and self-isolation.  UN-Habitat is based in Nairobi, home to the Kibera slum, where people live hand-to-mouth and water access points are hard to find. They are even harder to get to when movement restrictions are in place, in the hope… Read More
Development Health Advice 

Coronavirus update: WHO and world football launch ‘kick out coronavirus’ campaign, as millions sign up to WhatsApp helpline

The campaign involves a video featuring many of the biggest names in football (soccer to those in the US), including Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, and former England team captain, and World Cup semi-finalist, Gary Lineker. FIFA President Gianni Infanti, said that the organization is calling on everyone to follow the WHO’s five key steps to stop the spread… Read More
Development Health Advice 

COVID-19: UN chief calls for global ceasefire to focus on ‘the true fight of our lives’

“The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war”, he said.  “That is why today, I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world.  It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives.”  To warring parties: Pull back from hostilities. Silence the guns; stop the… Read More
Development Health Advice 

Another ‘tragic milestone’: Reported cases of COVID-19 pass 200,000, says UN health chief

“Every day, COVID-19 seems to reach a new and tragic milestone”, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists, revealing that the agency had received reports of more than 210,000 cases and over 9,000 people deaths. While stressing that “every loss of life is a tragedy”, he maintained that it also provides “motivation to double down and do everything we can… Read More
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