UN / SYRIA UPDATE

In a videoconference meeting with the Security Council, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said the ten confirmed COVID-19 cases in Syria were “the tip of the iceberg, with the virus having the potential to have a devastating impact on vulnerable communities across the country,” according to a UN spokesperson. UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:50
• Production Date: 30 March 2020
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: GEIR PEDERSEN; MARK LOWCOCK; STEPHANE DUJARRIC
• Corporate Name: OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - OCHA
• Subject Topical: CONFLICT SITUATION; VIRUSES
• Geographic Subject: SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 2542203
• Parent Id: 2542203
• Alternate Title: unifeed200330b

Description

STORY: UN / SYRIA UPDATE
TRT: 1:50
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 30 MARCH 2020, NEW YORK CITY

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Aerial shot, exterior UN headquarters

30 MARCH 2020, NEW YORK CITY

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Turning to Syria, Geir Pedersen, the Special Envoy for Syria, and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock provided updates on the situation in Syria while participating this morning in a videoconference meeting with Security Council members.
Mr. Pedersen reiterated his appeal for a complete, immediate nationwide ceasefire throughout Syria to enable an all-out-effort to counter COVID-19, and expressed his readiness to work with the Government of Syria and the opposition and all relevant players on the ground, as well as key countries with weight and influence who can support a scaling-up of action and ensure that the ceasefire holds.
The Special Envoy noted that there has been a decrease in violence in Syria’s northwest, especially in terms of airstrikes. He also noted that agreements in the northeast continue broadly to hold. However, current arrangements are not ideal for the kind of response across front-lines that the COVID-19 outbreak demands.
Mr. Lowcock said to Security Council members that, as of this morning, ten cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Syria, including one death. Judging from other places, he said, this is the tip of the iceberg, with the virus having the potential to have a devastating impact on vulnerable communities across the country.
He added that Humanitarian needs remain enormous, with the UN data showing clear evidence of deteriorating conditions since December. Mr. Lowcock said that we are seeing increased rates of stunting – a consequence of child malnutrition, from which it is rarely possible to fully recover. Almost three out of every ten displaced children in northwest Syria under the age of five are stunted.”

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

3. Aerial shot, exterior UN headquarters

Storyline

In a videoconference meeting with the Security Council, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock said the ten confirmed COVID-19 cases in Syria were “the tip of the iceberg, with the virus having the potential to have a devastating impact on vulnerable communities across the country,” according to a UN spokesperson.

Speaking today (30 Mar) to reporters remotely from his residence in New York, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Lowcock and Geir Pedersen, the Special Envoy for Syria, and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock provided updates on the situation in Syria while participating this morning in a videoconference meeting with Security Council members.

He said Lowcock warned that the humanitarian needs in the country are “enormous, with the UN data showing clear evidence of deteriorating conditions since December.” He added that there increased rates of stunting due to malnutrition adding that “Almost three out of every ten displaced children in northwest Syria under the age of five are stunted.”

Pedersen Pedersen reiterated his appeal for a “complete, immediate nationwide ceasefire throughout Syria to enable an all-out-effort to counter COVID-19”, and expressed his readiness to work with the Government of Syria and the opposition and all relevant players on the ground, “as well as key countries with weight and influence who can support a scaling-up of action and ensure that the ceasefire holds.”

The Special Envoy noted that there has been a decrease in violence in Syria’s northwest, especially in terms of airstrikes. He also noted that agreements in the northeast continue broadly to hold, but said “current arrangements are not ideal for the kind of response across front-lines that the COVID-19 outbreak demands.”