Week in Review

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Weekly Wrap 14 August 2020 © UNICEF/Ramzi Haidar UN and partners launch $565 million appeal for Lebanon The UN and aid partners are seeking $565 million to address the overwhelming needs in Lebanon following the deadly explosions that flattened large areas of the capital, Beirut, nearly two weeks ago. Humanitarian Aid UNAMA/Habiburahman Rahmany. Afghanistan: More action needed to stop killings of human rights defenders  The death of nine human rights defenders since the beginning of this year marks "the emergence of a truly alarming trend", an independent UN rights expert said on Friday, calling on Afghanistan to prevent any further killings. Human Rights WFP/Ben Anguandia Millions 'on the edge' in DR Congo, now in even greater danger of tipping over: WFP Millions of lives could be lost to hunger in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), amid escalating conflict and worsening COVID-19 transmission, the UN emergency food relief agency has warned, urging the international community to step up support for the African nation. Humanitarian Aid UN Photo/Mark Garten UN chief welcomes Israel-UAE agreement The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed a joint statement by the leaders of the United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which suspends Israeli annexation plans over parts of the occupied West Bank, something the UN has consistently called for. Peace and Security IRC Real Life Heroes: 'a simple word can mean a lot to a refugee' After leaving Gaza as a refugee, Shadi Mohammedali decided to dedicate himself to helping others in a similar situation. Today, he is working for an NGO in a Greek camp for asylum seekers, explaining how they can protect themselves from COVID-19. Humanitarian Aid UN-Belarus/Victor Radivinovski UN rights experts express 'outrage' at Belarus police violence against peaceful protesters UN human rights experts on Thursday, strongly criticized the level of violence being used by security forces across Belarus against peaceful protesters and journalists, following five days of demonstrations over the disputed presidential election. Human Rights © ILO/Minette Rimando WHO chief calls for solidarity in financing, ensuring equal access to future COVID-19 vaccine The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that six months after first sounding the international alarm over COVID-19, the UN agency is now intensely focused on shepherding global vaccine candidates through the necessary trials, and guaranteeing rapid, fair and equitable access to them for all countries. Health The Official CTBTO Photostream 'Urgent need' to stop erosion of nuclear order, major UN disarmament forum hears  The lack of trust and cooperation among States, and the diminished faith in "the very multilateral institution that was designed to maintain global peace and security", must be overcome, a high-level UN official told a prominent disarmament conference on Thursday.  Peace and Security © UNOCHA UN rights experts call for accountability following Beirut's 'unprecedented' lethal explosion The catastrophic blast which led to the deaths of more than 200 in Beirut on 4 August, has prompted more than three dozen independent rights experts on Thursday, to issue a call for justice and accountability on behalf of the Lebanese people. Human Rights Safari Doctors Real Life Heroes: on a journey towards quality healthcare In the remote Lamu region, on the northeast coast of Kenya, quality healthcare is hard to come by. Every month, medical staff from Safari Doctors, an NGO founded by Umra Omar, set sail on a boat filled with medicines, to provide free basic medicines to hundreds of marginalized inhabitants in several coastal villages. Humanitarian Aid © UNICEF/Bona Khoy Coronavirus and schools: Access to handwashing facilities key for safe reopening Nearly 820 million children worldwide do not have basic handwashing facilities at school, putting them at increased risk of COVID-19 and other transmittable diseases, according to a report published on Thursday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children's Fund, UNICEF. Health UNIFIL Amid COVID-19, UN commitment to peace 'more urgent than ever' COVID-19 threatens not only hard-won development and peacebuilding gains, but also "risks exacerbating conflicts or fomenting new ones", the UN chief reminded the Security Council on Wednesday, during a briefing on the challenges to achieving sustainable peace, while pandemics ravage communities worldwide.   Peace and Security © UNICEF David Berkwitz UN praises resilience and vision of younger generation, marking International Youth Day   Commemorating International Youth Day, top UN officials have called on leaders around the world to "do everything possible" to enable young people to reach their fullest potential. SDGs IOM/Benjamin Suomela Pandemic 'inflicting multiple shocks' on the young, threatens entire generation Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, more than 70 per cent of students have been shut out of schools, universities and training centres, according to a new report issued on Tuesday by the UN's labour agency. Human Rights © UNICEF Polio vaccination campaigns restart in Afghanistan and Pakistan after COVID-19 hiatus Polio vaccination campaigns have resumed in Afghanistan and Pakistan, months after having been severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday.  Health UNICEF/Ramzi Haidar 'You are not alone, we are in this together', declare UN staffers in Lebanon Last Saturday was another scorching August day in Lebanon's shattered capital of Beirut, but UN staff members who had gathered outside UN House – itself damaged during the deadly port explosion - were determined to get straight to work, and stand in solidarity with the country they call home. Humanitarian Aid ILO/Hisham Ashraf Pandemic poses fresh challenges for vulnerable migrant workers in Middle East Amidst reports that many migrant workers in the Middle East are being made destitute, due to an economic crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN is calling on governments and employers to respect their rights, and show solidarity with their plight. Migrants and Refugees UN Office for Disarmament Affairs Young people have a major role to play in ridding the world of nuclear weapons Nuclear weapons are still one of the most serious threats to mankind, and the dangers are growing. Young people can play an important role in ensuring that they are eliminated once and for all, says the UN's top disarmament official, ahead of International Youth Day on 12 August. Peace and Security © UNOCHA Beirut blast: 'The faster we act, the better we can reduce human suffering,' says UN deputy chief To help Lebanon overcome the tragedy and recover better, "we will need all hands on deck", deputy UN chief Amina Mohammed told a virtual donors conference on Sunday, convened to rally international support in the wake of last week's massive explosion at the Beirut port, which killed some 150 people, wounded thousands and caused destruction throughout much of the city. Humanitarian Aid ILO Photo/Kevin Cassidy First Person: COVID-19 helping Hawaiians to 'recognize the importance of heritage' Sabra Kauka is a cultural practitioner and teaches Hawaiian Studies at the Island School on the island of Kauai, in Hawaii, while acting as a coordinator for the Department of Education. As the daughter of an army officer, she spent much of her youth living overseas, but "felt the call to come home" to Hawaii as an adult after reading a newspaper article which highlighted the poor standard of living for indigenous Hawaiians in Hawaii. Culture and Education Pablo Montes Goitia/UN Uruguay Building a green economy, brick by brick In Uruguay, thousands of families earn a precarious livelihood making bricks, using traditional methods that are often inefficient and harmful to the environment. A UN project, in collaboration with the Uruguayan government, aims to make the industry less polluting, whilst preserving jobs for the many artisans who depend on it.  Climate Change UN Photo/Shigeo Hayashi Lessons of Nagasaki survivors should motivate the world to eliminate all nuclear weapons – UN chief UN Secretary General António Guterres on Sunday marked 75 years since the atomic bombing of Nagasaki with praise for the hibakusha, the survivors, who transformed their decades-long plight into a warning about the perils of nuclear weapons and an example of the triumph of the human spirit. Peace and Security 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