The UN spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric from The Secretary-General provided notes on the global tourism industry, contraction of remittances, major trade slow down, and the climate crisis.
- He said that small states have been vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19. Added that we need effective international cooperation, solidarity, and multilateralism to respond to the economic and social impacts that underlying fragilities expose and aggravated during the pandemic.
- The secretary-general also stresses that the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic must be linked to the sustainable development goals. He noted that we must ensure that a COVID-19 vaccine is considered a global public good and available and affordable to all.
- On climate change, he added that we must build a global coalition in 2021 towards net-zero emissions. Small states have a key role to play he stressed adding that he counts on their active engagement.
- In the security council this morning, members of the council heard from the secretary-general special representative in the Central African Republic, he reiterated the UN’s mission commitment to support the forthcoming presidential and legislative elections as well as local elections scheduled next year. The political situation remains tense he said as he encouraged all those involved to view the upcoming elections as an opportunity to consolidate the democratic process and to find lasting solutions to the crisis the country has been facing.
- Turning to the pandemic he highlighted that the socioeconomic vulnerabilities that have been exasperated by the virus. He strongly condemned the attacks against humanitarian workers which are worsening the situation of populations in need. The special representative said the UN mission will continue to take all needed measures to protect civilians, civilian infrastructure, and humanitarian workers.
- The world food program is warning that unless humanitarian access is urgently granted to organizations like theirs chaotropic levels of hunger can hit parts of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The ability of humanitarian organizations to deliver assistance to those in need has been jeopardized by worsening conflict and insecurity. WFP said in their statement aid workers are also increasingly targeted by non-state armed groups and the agency is urging participants in tomorrow’s conference to find ways for organizations to engage with communities and open up safe passageways.
- I found this issue to be the most interesting/newsworthy because they are intertwined in that we are battling two pandemics here. The COVID-19 pandemic and the hunger crisis. While many humanitarian groups are on the ground trying to help they are being attacked by non-state groups which are hindering their ability to progress. There is a meeting being able tomorrow in regard to this ongoing issue and is it urgent they find ways to safely allow these organizations to operate or progress will continue to be hindered.
- In Yemen out humanitarian colleagues tell us the situation continues to worsen as clashes surge. They report more than a thousand people have been displaced in October. We alone with our humanitarian partners are providing aid items to the newly displaced people. With this backdrop, COVID-19 continues to spread unchecked through Yemen. In parallel, the threat of hunger for millions is on the rise and food prices are 140% higher than before the conflict. The lack of funding is crippling, the Yemen response program is only 42% funded.
- In terms of questions, the one that stuck out to me was a question asking if the UN is aware that the U.S. plans to change the rules for the visas that allow most journalists to cover the UN limiting them to 240 days stay in the US? Yes they are aware. Dujarric asked that they check that and how it affects Journalists covering the UN and once he has something he will get back with that information.