Virtual Briefing by Spokesperson for Secretary-General

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

• Categories: Media / Press Conferences
• Video Length: 00:30:34
• Production Date: 14 April 2020
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: STEPHANE DUJARRIC
• Corporate Name: OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - OCHA; UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES - UNHCR; UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST - UNRWA; WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME - WFP; WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION - WHO
• Subject Topical: CEASEFIRES; CHILDREN IN ARMED CONFLICTS; CYCLONES; HEALTH SERVICES; HUMANITARIAN CRISIS; MEASLES; REFUGEES; SECRETARY-GENERAL; VIRUSES
• Geographic Subject: AFGHANISTAN; AFRICA; BANGLADESH; CHILE; COLOMBIA; SYRIA; VANUATU
• MAMS Id: 2543026
• Parent Id: 2543026

Description

The Secretary-General today said in a video message just released that as the world fights the deadly COVID-19 pandemic we are also seeing another pandemic -- the dangerous epidemic of misinformation.

The first UN “Solidarity Flight” is scheduled to leave Addis Ababa shortly to bring medical supplies and protective equipment to boost COVID-19 response on the African continent.

This morning, the Security Council was briefed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu.

In a statement today, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Imran Riza, said that 25 COVID-19 cases, including the tragic deaths of two people, have been confirmed to date in the country.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) urged today greater support for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran in the context of the current pandemic.

With COVID-19 posing risks to one of the largest refugee camps in the world in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, the Government and its UN partners are working to ensure that there are health systems, services in place for Rohingya refugees and the host community, and that they are ready.

In Chile, where there have been some 7,200 confirmed COVID-19 cases, the UN team has been closely working with the Government since the beginning of the outbreak, addressing the immediate health issues and the socio-economic impacts.

The UN Migration Agency today launched a campaign in Mexico through social networks with the aim of sensitizing citizens about the importance of avoiding xenophobia and hate speech towards migrants during the COVID emergency.

The Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), Virginia Gamba, has welcomed the effective implementation of ceasefires by parties to [the] conflict following the global call for peace made by the Secretary-General on 23 March.

The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, together with the Council of Europe today encouraged Member States to benefit from the support that refugee health professionals can provide during the COVID-19 response.

UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and its partners, in the Measles & Rubella Initiative have warned that, as COVID-19 continues to spread, more than 117 million children in 37 countries may miss out on the life-saving measles vaccine.

The UN Humanitarian Chief, Mark Lowcock, yesterday announced the release of $2.5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to get lifesaving aid to thousands of people affected by Tropical Cyclone Harold in Vanuatu.

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