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Month: April 2020

FROM THE FIELD: How refugees are helping overwhelmed health systems' COVID-19 response

The Mobile Emergency and Resuscitation Service (SMUR) is on the front line in the fight against coronavirus, by Centre hospitalier d’Argenteuil.

Refugee workers are often delayed from being able to join the labour force in Europe despite having expertise, because the diplomas and certificates they received in their home countries are not recognized. But a recently adopted scheme to fast-track acceptance of their qualifications, is making it easier for highly regulated health services to take advantage of their skills.

Yasin, a doctor from Somalia, and Mohamed, a medic from Libya, both fled violence in their home countries and are now in France, working alongside other health professionals in the fight against COVID-19. Find out more about Mohamed’s experience, and Yasin’s inspirational journey from sleeping rough in Paris, to founding an NGO, here.

And learn here how the European Qualifications Passport for Refugees is making it easier for refugees like them. to work and contribute to European health services.
 

Greece: COVID-19 pandemic a further risk to refugee child education, warns UN partner

The UN refugee agency UNHCR, and children’s agency UNICEF, which co-ordinate the refugee education response on the Greek islands – as well other services including safety, sanitation, health care and nutrition, in liaison with the Greek government – have appealed for emergency funds to extend remote learning for refugee children whose education has been severely disrupted by the coronavirus.

“We are working on establishing remote channels of communication with children who were physically attending our learning centres before COVID-19, providing distance learning lessons through mobile phones and printed education materials”, said Lucio Melandri, head of UNICEF’s Greece office.

“The situation in general is extremely difficult for refugee and migrant children on the Greek islands”, added Mr. Melandri.

“Once we start to emerge from this crisis, it is crucial that their education is not overlooked. COVID-19 response should not hamper the necessity of providing constructive learning opportunities and a safe space for children to learn, grow and regain a sense of normalcy in their lives”. 

The charity Theirworld, which helps to fund education programmes managed by UNHCR and UNICEF, has released a report stating that, without additional funding, vital education services for refugee children, many of whom are vulnerable children who have often fled conflict in Syria or Afghanistan, will end in June. 

Major donors are currently a long way from agreeing to a funding extension for the programmes operated by UNHCR, UNICEF and other aid groups, says the report. Theirworld estimates that some $20 million is needed to keep the initiatives open for another two years.

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The charity calculates that, as of late 2019, less than a third of the estimated 5,296 school-age refugee children on the islands were receiving any schooling. UNHCR favours access to the official Greek school system, but promotes non-formal educational activities, as a way to help bridge the gap.

“For children who have been displaced because of conflict or persecution entering school restores their hope and dignity”, says Philippe Leclerc, UNHCR Representative in Greece.

“Non-formal education is providing a safe space away from the difficult conditions and an opportunity to connect with the educational process. It is crucial that we continue to provide this opportunity during the Covid-19 outbreak, without sparing efforts to promote their inclusion in the national education system.”
 

Afghanistan: Civilian casualties down, but hundreds still killed, despite US-Taliban deal

Despite that dramatic drop, 533 Afghan civilians – including more than 150 children – were killed due to fighting, highlighting the urgent need for all parties to the conflict to do more to protect civilians from harm.

Those deaths, along with 760 civilian casualties, came amid raised hopes that the Afghan Government and the Taliban would begin substantive peace talks and prioritize efforts to protect all Afghans from the impact of COVID-19.

Intensified fighting, despite diplomatic breakthroughs

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), which published the report, expressed particular concern over intensified fighting during March and a disturbing uptick in civilian casualties – a trend that follows a period of reduced violence between pro-Government forces and the Taliban from 22 to 28 February, as well as the 29 February signing of an agreement between the United States and the Taliban.

“I call on all parties to seize the opportunity offered by the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire to focus collective efforts on fighting a common enemy, the COVID-19 pandemic”, said Deborah Lyons, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of UNAMA.

‘Imperative’ to stop the violence, UNAMA chief

“To safeguard the lives of countless civilians in Afghanistan – and to give the nation hope of a better future – it is imperative that violence is stopped with the establishment of a ceasefire and for peace negotiations to commence.”

The report found that anti-Government elements were responsible for 55 per cent – or 710 – of the civilian casualties, with 39 per cent attributed to the Taliban, 13 per cent to the ISIL–Khorasan Province extremist group (ISIL-KP) and the remainder to undetermined anti-Government elements.

Pro-Government forces were responsible for 32 per cent – or 412 – of all civilian casualties, the report found, and for at least twice as many child deaths as anti-Government elements. UNAMA attributed 21 per cent of overall civilian casualties to Afghan national security forces, 8 per cent to international military forces and the remainder to pro-Government armed groups and undetermined such forces.

As of Monday, the Afghan Ministry of Public Health reported 1,703 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 57 deaths in a country with an estimated population of 35 million.

The World Health Organization (WHO) meanwhile has been supporting Afghanistan’s response to COVID-19 since late January, in particular, by training health workers in infection prevention and control. It also has been involved in case management, the establishment of 7 testing laboratories, surveillance and case investigation efforts, screening at points of entry and community engagement initiatives. [source:

Afghanistan’s Health Ministry said in February as concern mounted over the coronavirus public health emergency, it had assigned health teams to screen passengers in the national airports and entry points, established quarantine areas in Kabul and in the provinces, launched awareness campaigns and established inter-sectoral committees to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19

Yemen needs cooperation between parties more than ever, says top UN negotiator

Responding to a declaration of self-rule by the Southern Transitional Council, the main separatist group in the south of the country, Mr Griffiths highlighted the fact that the city of Aden – where the internationally-recognized Government is based – and other areas, have yet to recover from recent disastrous flooding. They are also facing the rising risk of COVID-19, he said.  

Until now, the Southern Transitional Council has been a member of the Saudi-led international coalition that has been fighting mainly Houthi forces to the north for the last five years. 

In a statement, Mr. Griffiths called for greater support for a Saudi-led initiative known as the Riyadh Agreement, which seeks to deliver improved public services and security to people in the south. 

“Now, more than ever, all political actors must cooperate in good faith, refrain from taking escalatory actions, and put the interests of Yemenis first”, stressed Mr. Griffiths. “The Riyadh Agreement provides for the participation of the STC in consultations on the final political solution to end the conflict in Yemen and serving the interests of Yemenis nation-wide,” he added.

Floods exacerbate years of suffering

At the weekend, the UN reported that more than 100,000 people across Yemen have been impacted by torrential rains and flooding since mid-April. Health authorities in Aden Governorate, one of the hardest-hit areas, have confirmed seven deaths, including four children.

“Countless families have lost everything,” said Ms. Lise Grande, Humanitarian Coordinator for the country. “This tragedy comes on top of the COVID-19 crisis, which comes on top of the pre-famine last year, which came on top of the worst cholera outbreak in modern history”.

Aden, Abyan, Lahj, Marib and Sana’a governorates and the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sana’a itself, have been worst affected.

Flooding has damaged roads, bridges and the electricity grid, and contaminated water supplies, cutting access to basic services for thousands of people. Conditions are hardest for thousands of families already displaced who have now lost shelter, food rations and household supplies.

Humanitarian agencies have rushed to provide life-saving assistance including emergency health care, food packs, shelter, clean water and survival items. 

“Truly, none of us know how much more suffering the people of Yemen can take,” said Ms. Grande. “The solution is clear. The parties to the conflict need to find the courage to stop fighting and start negotiating.”

Engage in dialogue: UN chief

Responding to media questions on the subject, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, said that Mr. Guterres was concerned about the development, and urged all “relevant stakeholders” to “exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any actions that would further escalate the situation”.

“The Secretary-General calls on all to engage in an inclusive dialogue to resolve their differences”, added Mr. Dujarric, “and address the legitimate concerns of all Yemenis, including those of southern groups.”

Mr. Guterres, continued the spokesman,  calls on the parties to the conflict to implement the Riyadh Agreement, as well as concentrate efforts on countering the spread of COVID-19, and responding to the flooding that has affected tens of thousands of Yemenis.

“The Secretary-General reaffirms the need to preserve the integrity of Yemeni institutions and emphasizes that the conflict in Yemen can only be resolved through a negotiated political settlement”.
 

Tap youth talent to tackle COVID-19 crisis and beyond, UN chief tells Security Council

 António Guterres said despite youth engagement during this period – including in the 2016 peace process in Colombia and in shaping the Global Compact on Refugees two years later – opportunities for them to contribute remain inadequate.

“The world cannot afford a lost generation of youth, their lives set back by COVID-19 and their voices stifled by a lack of participation”, he said.

“Let us do far more to tap their talents as we tackle the pandemic and chart a recovery that leads to a more peaceful, sustainable and equitable future for all”.

Pressing forward amid the pandemic

In presenting his first report on Security Council Resolution 2250, the UN chief listed how COVID-19 has impacted the world’s young people, with more than 1.5 billion of them now out of the classroom.

Youth were already confronting numerous challenges even before the pandemic, including in accessing education, or through being affected by violence and conflict. Those pressing for peace or upholding human rights have been threatened.

Despite these obstacles, young people across the world have joined the common fight against the coronavirus disease, supporting both frontline workers and people in need. And they continue to push for change.

Gatwal Augustine Gatkuoth Yul, from South Sudan, spent his formative years in a refugee camp in Uganda. He founded the Young-adult Empowerment Initiative (YEI), which supports young refugees in building peace and “unlearning” violence.

Mr. Yul said despite relative peace in his homeland, inter-clan violence, cattle raids and child abductions are among the security issues that persist.

“South Sudan’s youth are not asking for more policy documents and resolutions. We are asking for proactive involvement of youth in all levels of decision-making,” he told ambassadors.

UN Youth Envoy, Jayathma Wickramanayake, spoke of the need for more meaningful partnerships between young people and the civil society organizations and government institutions that work on the youth, peace and security (YPS) agenda.

“To date, there are no national action plans on YPS but I’m pleased to note that in some countries, these are in the process of development”, she reported.

“For a national roadmap to be successful, a participatory, transparent and youth–led process with adequate resources are needed.”

Call to action

The UN Secretary-General issued a four-point call to action for the Council, urging members to do more to address the various challenges facing young people. He also called for investment in youth participation, but also in their organizations and initiatives.

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“We must strengthen human rights protections and protect the civic space on which youth participation depends”, he continued.

“And fourth, we must emerge from the COVID-19 crisis with a determination to recover better – massively increasing our investment in young people’s capacities as we deliver the Sustainable Development Goals”.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are considered the blueprint for a better future for all people and the planet.

The deadline to achieve the SDGs is 2030.

Protect workers during and after lockdowns, urges UN labour agency

“The safety and health of our entire workforce is paramount today”, underscored ILO Director-General Guy Ryder. 
Without adequate safeguards that meet the strict occupational safety and health criteria needed for bringing workers back, countries risk a resurgence of the virus, according to the UN’s labour agency. 

However, it noted, that by putting the necessary measures in place, the risk of a second wave of contagion contracted at the workplace will be minimized.

“In the face of an infectious disease outbreak, how we protect our workers now clearly dictates how safe our communities are, and how resilient our businesses will be, as this pandemic evolves”, said Mr. Ryder.

Risk control measures should be specifically adapted to meet the needs of the pandemic’s frontline workers, including, nurses, doctors, cleaners, those in food services and other workers “who risk their own health for us every day”.

“It is only by implementing occupational safety and health measures that we can protect the lives of workers, their families and the larger communities, ensure work continuity and economic survival”, spelled out the ILO chief.  

And while telecommuting offers new opportunities for employees to keep their jobs, he flagged that “workers must be able to negotiate these arrangements so that they retain balance with other responsibilities, such as caring for children, the sick or the elderly, and of course themselves”.

Risk assessments

In the face of a pandemic: Ensuring Safety and Health at Work, the report highlights the occupational safety and health risks that have arisen from the contagion. 

It also explores measures to prevent and control the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, including psychosocial, ergonomic, and other work-related safety and health issues.

The ILO Centenary Declaration, adopted in June 2019, declared that “safe and healthy working conditions are fundamental to decent work”. 

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Workplaces can help combat outbreaks

From past crises, ILO has learned that workplaces can be of vital importance to prevent and control outbreaks. 
Adequate safety and health measures can play a crucial role in containing the spread of the disease, while protecting workers and society at large.

Governments, employers and workers all have a role to play in tackling COVID-19 crisis, and according to ILO, their collaboration is key. 

In 2003, ILO began observing the day to stress the prevention of accidents and diseases at work. Also marked on 28 April is the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers, which was organized worldwide by the trades union movement since 1996.

 

COVID-19: New women-led UN initiative aims to save lives and protect livelihoods 

Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed highlighted that collectively, we are dealing with “an especially severe blow” to developing countries, particularly those in humanitarian or conflict settings. 

“In the face of a sweeping threat of such historic magnitude, our collective response must be equally historic and urgent”, she said, launching Rise for All  – a social and economic recovery initiative that brings women leaders together in calling the world to action and in support of the UN Response and Recovery Fund and Framework. 

While bearing the brunt of the pandemic, women are also on the frontlines, saving lives as first responders in hospitals, finding solutions as innovators and standing up to the crisis as political leaders.  

She welcomed the leaders who have put themselves to the fore: President Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia; Prime Minister of Norway and Sustainable Development Goals Advocate, Erna Solberg; Sustainable Development Goals Advocate and Founder of the Education Above All initiative, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley.  

Ms. Mohammed flaged that “now more than ever, we must come together to overcome this global threat that affects us all”. 

UN Framework 

Meanwhile, Ms. Mohammed explained that the UN Framework complements existing UN efforts to support countries, including the health response led by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the humanitarian response detailed in the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan. 

Centered around five interconnected streams of work, it ensures a universal, country-sensitive response that conveys a “fundamental commitment to environmental sustainability and gender equality”, according to the deputy UN chief. 

“It reflects the call of the 2030 Agenda to build more resilient societies and a future that is sustainable, inclusive, and just”, she said.  

Over the next 12 to 18 months, the framework aims to guide action under the leadership of UN Resident Coordinators leading Country Teams, and WHO’s technical guidance and integrated programmatic responses of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).   

Response and Recovery Fund 

The UN Framework is aligned with the Secretary-General’s call for global solidarity and his COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, which, launched earlier this month, seeks to mobilize $1 billion to support its first nine months of operation and $2 billion overall.  

“We need to move fast”, Ms. Mohammad warned, saying “normal development timelines, for donors and the UN alike, will simply not work”.  

Critical UN Framework pillars  

  1. Ensure availability of health services and health systems.  
  2. Provide social protection and basic services to help people cope.  
  3. Protect jobs, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and the most vulnerable productive actors through economic recovery programmes.  
  4. Guide fiscal and financial stimulus to make macroeconomic policies work for the most vulnerable.
  5. Promote social cohesion and invest in community-led response systems.  

    Thanking the Member States who have contributed around $38 million to date, the deputy UN chief said that funding would be released in early May. 

    “Yet, much more is needed”, she stressed, urging others to “contribute generously to this appeal and heed the call to action by women leaders rising in solidarity to ensure no one is left behind”.  

    In closing she maintained that the UN is fully committed to supporting people and Governments everywhere along the way. 

    “Together, we will win the fight against COVID-19 and come out stronger,” concluded the Deputy Secretary-General. 

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    Helping nations build back better 

    UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner, who also co-chairs the UN Sustainable Development Group, elaborated that the five pillars of the UN Framework is not only measured in monetary terms, but in livelihoods, vulnerabilities and confidence in government to lead economies and societies “through this process”. 

    Mr. Steiner spelled out that UNDP’s “single most important priority right now”, is the necessity to help governments structure their responses, mobilize international support and look at domestic financial responsibilities to underwrite needed investments.  

    “And ultimately through this work, [we] also help countries design into their recovery strategies, the DNA of a build-back-better strategy”, he upheld.    

    ‘Toxic lockdown culture’ of repressive coronavirus measures hits most vulnerable

    In Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said that emergency powers “should not be a weapon Governments can wield to quash dissent, control the population, and even perpetuate their time in power”.

    Hunting for food

    In a statement, she added: “Shooting, detaining, or abusing someone for breaking a curfew because they are desperately searching for food is clearly an unacceptable and unlawful response. So is making it difficult or dangerous for a woman to get to hospital to give birth. In some cases, people are dying because of the inappropriate application of measures that have been supposedly put in place to save them.”

    Respect for people’s rights covered their inherent freedoms “across the spectrum, including economic, social, and cultural rights, and civil and political rights”, the

    High Commissioner explained, adding that protecting these was “fundamental to the success of the public health response and recovery from the pandemic”.

    From South Africa to the Philippines and from Hungary to Jordan, Ms. Bachelet’s Office, (OHCHR), highlighted allegations of abuse that appeared to transgress key basic freedoms.

    Heavy-handed action

    Speaking to journalists during an online press conference, Georgette Gagnon, Director of Field Operations, described how many countries had adopted a “heavy-handed” and “highly militarised” security response to the virus, including South Africa.

    “We’ve received reports of disproportionate use of force by security officers, particularly in poor and informal settlements”, she said. “Rubber bullets, tear gas, water guns and whips have been used to enforce social distancing in shopping lines…and outside their homes.”

    Data from nearly three weeks ago indicated that more than 17,000 people have already been arrested in South Africa, as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.

    Of that number, the independent police investigative body is investigating complaints against officers for “murder, rape, assault discharge of firearms and corruption”, Ms. Gagnon added, highlighting a “toxic, lockdown culture”.

    Curfew violations

    Of “many dozens” of countries where new COVID-related abuses have emerged, the OHCHR official went on to describe how the Philippines’ “highly militarised response” to the pandemic had led to the arrest of 120,000 people for violating the curfew.

    More than 26,800 people had also been detained in Sri Lanka and there were fears of excessive use of force in El Salvador, Ms. Gagnon said, while Jordanian authorities were believed to have arrested 800 people a day for breaking the lockdown restrictions.

    Asked about alleged rights violations in China, Ms. Gagnon replied that the UN human rights office had received reports of censorship “off and online”, along with the intimidation, arrest and apparent detention of dissenting voices, such as doctors and journalists.

    “The Office is in direct contact with Chinese authorities to clarify the status of around half a dozen such cases”, she said. “China has informed us at this point that at least some of them are under investigation or have been charged.”

    On the issue of States including the U.S. allegedly refusing to provide shelter to migrants on the grounds of preventing the spread of the new coronavirus, the UN rights Office highlighted similar concerns within the European Union.

    Involuntary returns must stop

    “We have called very clearly for States to avoid involuntary forced returns during this period; we believe that is central to address the public health consequences of the types of returns that could be happening,” said Peggy Hicks, Director of Thematic Engagement at OHCHR.

    To date, more than 80 countries have announced a state of emergency linked to the virus, according to the UN human rights office, while others have issued exceptional measures. In new guidance on these precautions issued on Monday to help States in their response to COVID-19, the UN human rights Office made it clear that international law does allow States to restrict some rights in order to protect public health, with additional powers available if a state of emergency is declared.

    Nonetheless, the restrictions need to be necessary, proportionate, and non-discriminatory, and they need to be temporary, with key safeguards against excesses, said Peggy Hicks, Director of Thematic Engagement at OHCHR.

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    Certain non-derogable rights – the most important of all – including the right to life, the prohibition against torture and other ill-treatment, and the right not to be arbitrarily detained, continue to apply in all circumstances, she explained.

    Targeted, based on skin colour

    Other key OHCHR concerns include how the pandemic has exposed underlying human rights issues that have existed in many countries for a long time, including a rise in racism and xenophobia.

    People are being “targeted for their Asian descent or for being foreigners or migrants accused of contributing in some way to the pandemic,” said Ms. Hicks. “All of us this finger-pointing and racism should never happen and should not be happening; we are all in this together.”

    From bustling streets to lockdown: Bangladesh and the UN mobilize to fight COVID-19: a UN Resident Coordinator blog

    The capital city of Bangladesh, Dhaka, where I have been living and working for the past three years, is normally a bustling and fast-paced metropolis of some 18 million people, animated by street life and high-end restaurants, expensive cars and rickshaws, culture, fashion, slums, the call to prayer sounding from loudspeakers. 

    The UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, Mia Seppo (centre), meets refugees in the west of the country in 2019. , by UN Bangladesh

    But as I write this, the hospitable and warm Dhakanites are at home, the roads are virtually empty, the city is quiet. I can hear a beggar asking for money on the street where I live. That is a first during my time in Dhaka.  One of the most densely populated countries in the world is preparing to fight COVID-19, the virus which has wreaked havoc and death around the world. 

    With half of the global population in some form of lockdown, the virus is moving from developed countries with functioning healthcare systems to densely populated countries with weak healthcare systems. By all measures, Bangladesh is one of the countries that is of concern, but we need to react with calm and reasoning; panic will only compound the challenges.

    Mobilizing resources

    We have all learned a new vernacular; imported cases, cluster of cases, community transmission. Bangladesh is now at early stages of community transmission, with the virus spreading from person-to-person. The present lockdown and physical distancing measures taken by the Government offer a window to strengthen the readiness of the healthcare sector.

    A municipal truck sanitizes the streets of Dhaka, Bangladesh in order to prevent COVID-19., by Saikat Mojumder

    The UN has seized this opportunity and been working with government counterparts to mobilize resources to respond to the pandemic; from procuring vital personal protection equipment (PPE) to protect healthcare workers, training healthcare workers, scaling up testing, contact tracing and isolation and ensuring food security during lockdowns.

    We are playing a key role by supporting government communications efforts to reach households with accurate, potentially lifesaving information about COVID-19. The false and baseless information about preventing COVID-19 which has spread through some communities here, is putting lives at risk.   

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    High income and low-income countries are facing this crisis simultaneously, an unprecedented situation in modern times. They are competing for the same supplies as global delivery chains break down and as the shortage of medical equipment and supplies worsens. This calls for innovative and local solutions where possible. 

    Bangladesh is in the fortunate position of having strong manufacturing and private sectors which can be mobilized to fill gaps in the production of essential supplies including hygiene products. Civil society has mobilized swiftly and multiple networks of volunteers have stepped up their effort to support vulnerable groups. I’m not only referring to BRAC, an international development organization based in Bangladesh, but to a myriad of NGOs working at the grassroots level as trusted partners, raising awareness, delivering food to those who need it most and monitoring the delivery of services. And crucially, drawing attention to stigma and discrimination before it’s too late. As always, NGOs and civil society are key partners in the response. 

    Safety nets and additional support

    Gender-based violence services are being prioritized by the United Nations as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. , by Saikat Mojumder

    Bangladesh has a thriving private sector, a growing middle class, and is a country known for development innovation, but self-isolation at home, which is the best way to fight this pandemic, is a luxury many can ill afford.  The Government was quick to announce extra support in addition to existing social safety nets, especially food, for those struggling during the lockdown. In the short-term, the UN is working with the Government to ensure those relying on a daily wage and working in informal economies have food on the table during this uncertain lockdown period. In the long-term, we are working with government counterparts on an early socio-economic recovery to ensure development goals can still be reached and peoples’ livelihoods protected. 

    The ready-made garment sector, responsible for 80 per cent of Bangladesh’s export earnings and which brings millions of female workers into the formal economy, has also been hit hard.  It isn’t only about the economics though. For women in abusive relationships, being confined at home in times of anxiety and uncertainty increases the risks of domestic violence. 

    We are prioritising gender-based violence services in COVID-19 affected communities and an expansion of services to prevent and respond to cases of gender-based violence; more shelters, dedicated counselling hotlines, and psychosocial support. In times like this, people living in already vulnerable situations become even more vulnerable and any response needs to ensure that no one is left behind. We need to ensure that the needs of women and the informal sector are considered in recovery plans.

    Kindness, compassion and fearlessness

    No one knows how the next few months will play out globally or in the countries where we live and work. What we do know, is that any response to this pandemic is only as strong as its weakest link, the weakest health system. It’s more important than ever for communities, both local and global, to join together in kindness, compassion, and solidarity, so we can support each other through this crisis. We may come out of it bruised, but I hope also committed to building a better world. 

    Let me close with the words of Bangladesh’s Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore: “Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless when facing them.” And fearless and determined we must be. 
     

    No one knows how the next few months will play out globally or in the countries where we live and work. What we do know, is that any response to this pandemic is only as strong as its weakest link, the weakest health system. It’s more important than ever for communities, both local and global, to join together in kindness, compassion, and solidarity, so we can support each other through this crisis. We may come out of it bruised, but I hope also committed to building a better world. 

    Let me close with the words of Bangladesh’s Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore: “Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless when facing them.” And fearless and determined we must be. 

    The UN Resident Coordinator

    The UN Resident Coordinator, sometimes called the RC, is the highest-ranking representative of the UN development system at the country level.
    In this occasional series, UN News is inviting RCs to blog on issues important to the United Nations and the country where they serve.

    Millions more children at risk with immunization services disrupted amid COVID-19 pandemic 

    Making its call at the start of the 2020 edition of World Immunization Week, UNICEF said on Saturday that millions of children are in danger of missing life-saving vaccines against measles, diphtheria and polio due to disruptions in immunization service as the world rushes to slow the spread of COVID-19.

    Even before the coronavirus pandemic, measles, polio and other vaccines were out of reach for 20 million children below the age of one every year. Given the current disruptions, UNICEF warned that this could create pathways to disastrous outbreaks in 2020 and well beyond.

    “The stakes have never been higher. As COVID-19 continues to spread globally, our life-saving work to provide children with vaccines is critical,” said Robin Nandy, UNICEF Principal Adviser and Chief of Immunization.

    With disruptions in immunization services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he stressed that the fates of millions of young lives “hang in the balance.”

    UNICEF estimates that 182 million children missed out on the first dose of the measles vaccine between 2010 and 2018, or 20.3 million children a year on average. This is because the global coverage of the first dose of measles stands only at 86 per cent, well below the 95 per cent needed to prevent measles outbreaks.

    Widening pockets of unvaccinated children led to alarming measles outbreaks in 2019, including in high-income countries like the US, UK and France. Meanwhile, among low-income countries, the gaps in measles coverage before COVID-19 were already alarming.

    Beyond measles, the immunization gaps were already quite dire, according to new regional profiles developed by UNICEF. 

    Sustain immunization services, keep communities safe, urges UNICEF 

    UNICEF is sending critical vaccine supplies to immunize children, where possible, in areas with outbreaks and to replenish their routine supplies.

    In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, UNICEF is supporting the Government with vaccine supplies and protective equipment to continue immunization activities in North Kivu province, where over 3,000 cases of measles were reported since January 1.

    As the world races to develop and test a new COVID-19 vaccine, UNICEF and partners in the Measles & Rubella Initiative and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance are calling on governments and donors to:

    • Sustain immunization services while keeping health workers and communities safe;
    • Start planning to ramp up vaccinations for every missed child when the pandemic ends;
    • Fully replenish Gavi, as the alliance supports immunization programmes in the future; and
    • Ensure that when the COVID-19 vaccine is available, it reaches those most in need.

    “Children missing out now on vaccines must not go their whole lives without protection from disease,” said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “The legacy of COVID-19 must not include the global resurgence of other killers like measles and polio.”

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