#COVID-19

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for World Health Day, observed on 7 April:

In Timor-Leste, the United Nations is helping the Government amid the worst flash flooding and landslides in recent years that have damaged homes, road and bridges, affecting at least 10,000 people in eight municipalities.  The Organization has delivered sanitary and dignity kits, plastic mats and blankets to those in need.

The United Nations Human Rights Office in South-East Asia reports that 500 peaceful protesters have been killed and 2,600 others detained by security forces in Myanmar since 1 February.  It is asking States in the region to protect people fleeing violence and ensure that refugees and migrants are not forcibly returned.

A report released today by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan says that community-based militias in the country were responsible for 78 per cent of the 2,421 civilians killed in 2020, more than double than in 2019, as well as for abductions, which tripled in 2020, and conflict-related sexual violence.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ briefing to the General Assembly on the situation in Syria, today:

In Zimbabwe, 2.4 million people are struggling to meet their basic food needs due to the impact of COVID-19, the World Food Programme reports.  It is delivering monthly cash transfers to 326,000 people across 32 urban areas, and aims to reach 550,000 people in the 28 worst-affected, food-insecure urban areas in the country.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ closing remarks to the High-level Event on Debt and Liquidity, as delivered in New York and online by Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed today:

With many countries continuing to struggle to overcome the human and economic devastation from COVID-19, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres convened a meeting of world leaders on Monday, 29 March, to urge the international community to take additional and urgent action to ensure a robust recovery.

Following are UN Secretary-General opening remarks to the high-level event on debt and liquidity today:

Following is a transcript of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ press conference with Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau of Canada and Andrew Holness of Jamaica on the high-level event on debt and liquidity, in New York today: