Human rights ‘uplift everyone’; must guide COVID-19 recovery response, says UN chief
The coronavirus pandemic is not only a critical public health danger, it is also a human, economic and social emergency that is “fast becoming a human rights crisis”, the UN chief said on Thursday, releasing a new policy brief on shaping an effective, inclusive response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Intensifying shelling and COVID-19 pandemic creates ‘perfect storm’ in Libya
In Libya, ongoing heavy fighting has raised concerns yet further, about the likely devastating impact of the new coronavirus on people there, particularly those repeatedly forced to flee violence.
Economic impact of coronavirus threatens hard-won progress across Africa’s Great Lakes region
Sweeping preventative measures seem to be curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the Great Lakes region of Africa, but the economic impact of the global pandemic threatens hard-won gains made along the long road back to peace and stability, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the region said on Wednesday.
UN rights chief rejects killings acknowledged by Cameroon, and Iran’s execution of child offenders
The UN’s human rights chief has been weighing in on recent killings committed by State authorities, or by rogue members of State military forces, emphasizing that all Governments must strictly abide by international law and hold those who serve, accountable for any violations.
Still ‘a long way to go’ in coronavirus battle, WHO chief warns
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against complacency as countries continue to confront COVID-19 and citizens grow weary of stay-at-home measures aimed at preventing the spread of the disease.
COVID-19: 5G broadband conspiracy ‘a hoax with no technical basis’, UN telecoms agency
The latest generation of fast broadband, commonly known as 5G, is in no way responsible for the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) – the UN’s agency for information and communication technologies – confirmed on Wednesday.
Fall in COVID-linked carbon emissions won’t halt climate change - UN weather agency chief
An expected drop in greenhouse gas emissions linked to the global economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is only “short-term good news”, the head of the UN weather agency said on Wednesday.
COVID-19 pandemic, an ‘unprecedented wake-up call’ for all inhabitants of Mother Earth
In his message for International Mother Earth Day this Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres acknowledged that all eyes are on the COVID-19 pandemic, which he flagged as “an unprecedented wake-up call”
FROM THE FIELD: Migrants use digital ‘fab labs’ to address Djibouti health protection shortages
With Djibouti’s health system under enormous strain from the COVID-19 pandemic, young migrants in the country are using 3D-printers to make face shields, and ease the shortfall inside medical facilities in the Horn of Africa country.