Briefing by Spokesperson for Secretary-General

Briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

• Categories: Media / Press Conferences
• Video Length: 01:15:41
• Production Date: 27 March 2020
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: STEPHANE DUJARRIC
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND - UNFPA; WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME - WFP
• Subject Topical: CEASEFIRES; HUMAN RIGHTS; JOURNALISTS; SCHOOLS; SECRETARY-GENERAL; SHIPPING; UNITED NATIONS BUDGET; UNITED NATIONS STAFF; VIRUSES; WOMEN
• Geographic Subject: MYANMAR; THAILAND; TIMOR-LESTE
• MAMS Id: 2542147
• Parent Id: 2542147

Description

This morning, in a historic virtual briefing, the Secretary-General briefed Member States on the UN's response to COVID-19.

In response to an update on the response to the Secretary-General’s call for global ceasefires as the world deals with the pandemic, the Spokesperson shared a few other examples.

In Timor Leste, the UN country team has been working with the Government to prevent a potential COVID-19 outbreak. There has already been one case confirmed in Timor Leste.

Our colleagues from the World Food Programme have launched an interactive map that shows how children’s access to school meals has been disrupted by pandemic.

UNICEF is also helping out by procuring and shipping vital supplies around the world, including desperately required personal protective equipment to affected countries.

In a statement issued by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), its Executive Director Natalia Kanem warned that women, girls, and health workers must not be overlooked in the global response.

The International Migration Agency (IOM) is monitoring border movements in the Thailand region and looking at borders with Myanmar, Cambodia and the Lao, as migrant workers return.

UNESCO today voiced its concerns about the safety of journalists when reporting on the global pandemic.

And an update on how we are working at our various Headquarters stations around the world.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) today expressed concern over the mounting casualties suffered by civilians and growing displacement due to stepped up clashes in the country’s west area.

Human rights colleagues also have updates today on the situation in Hungary, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka and Uganda.

And we want to thank our friends in Nassau, in the Bahamas, who despite this ongoing crisis have paid their regular budget dues in full, which bring us to 75 member states who have done so.

For further details please see SOURCE below.
Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General