Local Govt Forum

© UNICEF/Kaliyev A 9-year-old girl eats lunch at a primary school in Turkestan city, Kazakhstan.         29 April 2020 Culture and Education With classrooms closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, two UN agencies are urging governments to act now to shore up the futures of the 370 million children worldwide who depend on school meals. The World Food Programme ( WFP ) and the UN Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ) fear these young lives will suffer devastating nutritional and health consequences as a result of the crisis. World Food Programme ✔ @WFP During # COVID19 school closures, the world's most vulnerable children are missing out on more than education. For millions of children in fragile countries, school is a place of safety , the promise of a daily meal , as well as access to health and nutrition. 95 9:34 AM - Apr 29, 2020 Twitter Ads info and privacy 71 people are talking about this “For millions of children around the world, the meal they get at school is the only meal...

UN Photo/Evan Schneider The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in Manhattan displays a message of hope as the coronavirus continues to kill people in New York City.         29 April 2020 Health International health experts will convene on Thursday to evaluate the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and advise on updated recommendations, the head of the World Health Organization ( WHO ) said on Wednesday during his latest virtual press conference from Geneva. WHO  chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained that the Emergency Committee meeting will mark three months since members agreed that the new  coronavirus  disease was  an international global health emergency . “In the three months since the Emergency Committee last met, WHO has worked day in, day out to sound the alarm, support countries and save lives”, he  said . The Emergency Committee consists of 15 independent experts from across the world brought together under a treaty known as...

COVID-19 threatening global peace and security, UN chief warns Giles Clarke Nurses and healthcare workers outside at a hospital in New York City demand better protection against the COVID-19 virus.         10 April 2020 Peace and Security While the COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a health crisis, its implications are more far-reaching and could threaten global peace and security, the UN Secretary-General told members of the Security Council in a closed video-conference held on Thursday. António Guterres said heightened solidarity is needed if the world is to defeat the crisis, which he called the "gravest test since the founding of this Organization", with Governments already struggling to address rising unemployment and economic downturn. "But the pandemic also poses a significant threat to the maintenance of international peace and security -- potentially leading to an increase in social unrest and violence that would greatly undermine our ability to f...

UN health agency working on strategies to gradually lift COVID-19 restrictions UN Photo/Evan Schneider A wide view of Grand Central Terminal with an unusually sparse crowd during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in New York City.         10 April 2020 Health The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with countries on strategies to "gradually and safely" ease stay-at-home restrictions aimed at containing the spread of the new coronavirus, agency chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists on Friday, though he cautioned against any sudden action. " WHO  wants to see restrictions lifted as much as anyone", he  said . "At the same time, lifting restrictions too quickly could lead to a deadly resurgence. The way down can be as dangerous as the way up if not managed properly". Tedros laid out six factors for consideration, which include that transmission is controlled and sufficient public health and medical services are available.

WHO The World Health Organization and Global Citizen will broadcast a programme including pop star Lady Gaga (pictured) in support of healthcare workers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic         6 April 2020 Health The World Health Organization (WHO) has teamed up with international advocacy organization Global Citizen, to launch ‘One World Together At Home”, a global television and streaming special, curated by superstar singer-songwriter Lady Gaga, to celebrate frontline health care workers around the globe in their unrelenting battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.  “The World Health Organization is committed to defeating the  coronavirus  pandemic with science and public health measures, and supporting the health workers who are on the frontlines of the response”, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of  WHO , making Monday’s announcement of the event.  Global Citizen ✔ @GlblCtzn We’re excited to announce One World: ...

Ali Issa US Naval Hospital Ship Comfort arrives in New York City harbour to provide care for non-coronavirus patients freeing up beds in hospitals across the city.         6 April 2020 Human Rights Fearing a needless increase in COVID-19 deaths due to discrimination, UN independent human rights experts on Monday called for Governments to commit to racial equity and equality in their response to the pandemic. The Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent  said that structural discrimination could worsen inequalities surrounding access to healthcare and treatment, which could lead to a rise in disease and death rates among people of African descent. “Despite robust responses, States have not recognised the specific health risks faced by people of African descent or how racial discrimination and implicit bias and racial stereotypes may pervade policy”, chair Ahmed Reid said in a statement. UN Special Procedures ✔ @UN_SPExperts Racial equity & equali...