Noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Highlights:
Humanitarian appeal
SG/hate speech
Food prices/FAO
COVID/babies
DSG/debt
UNAMID
UNIFIL
Forests
Iraq
Central African Republic
Libya
Kenya
UNODC
WMO
Tourism
Vesak
COVID-19 HUMANITARIAN APPEAL
A short while ago, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, launched a $6.7 billion appeal and updated a global plan to fight COVID-19 in fragile countries.
Mr. Lowcock said that, while the virus has now affected every country and almost every person on the planet, the most devastating and destabilizing impacts will be felt in the world’s poorest countries.
On March 25th, the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan was launched. But with humanitarian needs continuing to rise, today’s updated Plan is calling for $6.7 billion for the remainder of 2020. The Plan includes nine more vulnerable countries, beyond the 54 covered in the original appeal.
Today’s appeal includes more of a focus on food insecurity, as well as how to help the most vulnerable and how to address gender-based violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, among others.
Mr. Lowcock said that donors have been fast and generous in their response, but it’s clear that much more is needed. He noted that, while some may be skeptical that additional resources can be generated in the current circumstances, that is not our experience. He pointed to how, after the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, fundraising for UN coordinated humanitarian appeals increased by more than 40 per cent by 2010.
He was joined at today’s briefing by the High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi; the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, David Beasley; the Executive Director of the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies [Programme], Dr.Mike Ryan; and the President and CEO of Oxfam America, Abby Maxman.
COVID-19/HATE SPEECH
Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will be releasing a statement on hate speech in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. He will appeal to all countries to stand up against xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering. He will also stress that the virus does not care who we are, where we live or what we believe.
Full Highlights: [ Ссылка ]
