Daily Wrap

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Daily Wrap 20 August 2020 © UNICEF/Brian Otieno COVID-19: African countries urged to promote a safe return to school School closures implemented to protect students from COVID-19, are hurting them in other ways, while the long-term impact of this disruption to education could create a "lost generation" in Africa, two UN agencies said on Thursday.  Culture and Education UNSOM Somalia at a critical juncture, as federal, state leaders, meet to break election impasse With elections slated for November delayed due to COVID-19, Somalia is at a critical juncture, the top United Nations official in the country told the Security Council on Thursday, pressing federal and state leaders to agree on voting modalities, and bolster the capacity of forces which are meant to assume full control of national security, next year. Peace and Security MINUSMA/Marco Dormino Mali coup: Democratic order must be restored 'as fast as possible' The UN on Thursday called for the "constitutional and democratic order" to be restored as soon as possible across Mali, following the military coup, and reiterated a call to respect the rule of law, and refrain from violence. Peace and Security IOM Mauritius oil spill highlights importance of global maritime laws: UN trade body The devastating oil spill off the east coast of Mauritius has highlighted the need for global adoption of international legislation that govern the seas and protect small island states and their vulnerable marine ecosystems against ship pollution, UN trade body UNCTAD has stated.  SDGs WFP/Malak Jaafar How can the UN help prevent another Beirut disaster? The devastation caused by the Beirut explosions on 4 August has focused attention on the risks involved in the transportation and storage of dangerous goods around the world. The UN is at the forefront of international efforts to reduce these risks and save lives.  Economic Development UNHCR/Alfredo D'Amato 'Urgent need' to scale up search and rescue in the Mediterranean UN agencies have called for search and rescue to be stepped up in the central Mediterranean, in the wake of a tragic shipwreck that claimed the lives of 45 migrants and refugees, including five children.  Migrants and Refugees UN Photo/Mark Garten Use COVID lessons to 'do things right' for the future, urges UN chief Lessons learnt from efforts to address the global pandemic must be used to "do things right for the future", UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, addressing a gathering of leading parliamentarians.  SDGs Coronavirus Portal & News Updates Readers can find information and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) from the UN, World Health Organization and UN agencies here. For daily news updates from UN News, click here. unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences