Following is the textof UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the East Asia Summit 2020: “Global Efforts Addressing COVID-19 and Promoting Recovery”, held today:
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ opening remarks to the open session of the eleventh Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-United Nations Summit, held today:
A series of tropical cyclones have devastated areas in the Philippines, Viet Nam, Cambodia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic since early October, United Nations humanitarian officials report, noting that the Organization and partners are seeking $95 million to help nearly 675,000 displaced people.
The Acting Special Representative for Libya reported a breakthrough in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum taking place in Tunisia, with participants reaching a preliminary agreement on a road map for ending the transitional period and organizing free, inclusive and credible parliamentary and presidential elections.
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks, as delivered, to the annual ministerial meeting of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, today:
In Somalia, flash floods have affected nearly 73,000 people, displacing more than 13,000 and causing four deaths, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports. The United Nations and partners have mobilized pre-positioned supplies to help those affected and provided shelter to at least 6,000 people.
Following is the text of UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ video message for the “Madrid Call to Action,” held today:
COVID-19 could push more people to move out of necessity, as hunger surges among migrant and displaced communities, the International Organization for Migration and the World Food Programme warn in a new report. The World Bank expects a 14 per cent drop in remittances to low- and middle-income countries by 2021 which will impact food security.
Following is the text of UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ video message at the twentieth meeting of the Council of Heads of State of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), held today:
Amid tensions in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, the Secretary-General spoke to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and regional leaders, relaying his support. United Nations staff will continue to deliver assistance to over 2 million people in Tigray, where thousands are also affected by COVID-19 and a desert locust infestation.