The first United Nations “Solidarity Flight” left Addis Ababa today to bring medical supplies and protective equipment to boost COVID-19 response on the African continent, with preparations being made to distribute to 32 countries and to facilitate medical evacuations.
In progress at UNHQ
Vanuatu
SG/SM/20043
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
The Education Cannot Wait Fund, which promotes education in emergencies, announced $23 million in grants to support vulnerable girls and boys facing the COVID-19 pandemic in 26 crisis-affected countries. The funding will support children’s continued learning while their schools are closed, including by scaling up distance education.
SG/T/3259
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres flew from Fiji to Vanuatu on Saturday, 18 May.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that volcanic activity on Vanuatu’s Ambae Island, which has a population of more than 10,000 people, has intensified in the last few weeks. The Vanuatu Council of Ministers has called for the immediate compulsory evacuation of Ambae residents to the neighbouring island of Maewo.