Week in Review

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Weekly Wrap 16 October 2020 © FAO/Luis Tato LIVE: World Food Day Hunger is rising, due to factors including conflict, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, which is putting a strain on food systems that are already failing in many countries. In today's LIVE blog, marking World Food Day, we will look at some of the many issues and possible solutions. Highlights •    UN chief video message •    What is sustainable agriculture? •    Food and the COVID-19 pandemic •    The business of food •    UN commits to transforming food systems SDGs IMF COVID-19: 'Little or no' benefit from trials of anti-virals, says WHO  Latest results from a UN-coordinated international trial on four COVID-19 therapeutic drugs, indicate that they have "little or no" positive impact on preventing deaths in patients infected with the new coronavirus.  Health UN News/Daniel Dickinson Corruption represents 'ultimate betrayal' of public trust: Guterres Corruption is not only a crime but immoral and the "ultimate betrayal" of public trust, the UN Secretary-General has said, calling on everyone to work together and stamp out the global scourge, in all its forms.  Law and Crime Prevention YPN for UNOCHA An 'airlift of hope' in Yemen, UN envoy tells Security Council An "airlift of hope" agreed by Yemen's warring parties to return more than 1,000 detainees to their families has been welcomed by UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, who has urged both sides to agree to further peace-building measures.   Peace and Security © UNICEF/Vinay Panjwani Invest in rural women, help them build resilience to future crises, urges UN chief Rural women play a critical role in agriculture, food security and managing land and natural resources - yet many suffer from "discrimination, systemic racism, and structural poverty", the UN chief said on Thursday.  Women UNMIL/Staton Winter Rape is wrong but death penalty, castration, not the answer: UN rights chief While perpetrators of rape and other forms of sexual violence must be held accountable, capital punishment and torture are not the answer, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Thursday.  Human Rights UNICEF/Tremeau Three billion people globally lack handwashing facilities at home: UNICEF Although handwashing with soap is vital in the fight against infectious diseases, including COVID-19, billions of people around the world do not have ready access to a place to do it, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday.  Health UNICEF/Vinay Panjwani Progress against tuberculosis 'at risk': WHO Urgent action and funding are needed to sustain progress in the global fight against tuberculosis (TB), the UN World Health Organization (WHO) has said, warning that global targets for prevention and treatment "will likely be missed". Health OCHA/Pierre Peron Myanmar: 'Shocking' killing of children allegedly used as human shields UN agencies in Myanmar have expressed 'sadness' and 'shock' over the killing of two boys, allegedly used as human shields by security forces in the country's northern Rakhine province, earlier this month.  Peace and Security OCHA/Charlotte Cans Thousands displaced by fighting in southern Afghanistan Thousands of people have been displaced and critical health services interrupted, after fighting erupted last weekend between security forces and Taliban fighters in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, the UN humanitarian office has reported.    Humanitarian Aid © UNICEF/Fazel Stand in solidarity with world's poor, UN chief says in message for International Day The UN Secretary-General has called for solidarity with all people living in poverty, during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.  SDGs Mariana Ceratti/World Bank IMF: 'Less severe' but 'still deep' recession predicted In the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic and its continuing impact, the global economy could see a "somewhat less severe, though still deep" recession through 2020, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected in its latest global economic outlook.  Economic Development UNICEF/Louzada Shift needed from what weather will be, to 'what the weather will do' Extreme weather and climate events have increased in frequency, intensity and severity as a result of climate change, hitting vulnerable communities disproportionately hard, a new UN report has revealed, calling for greater investment in effective early warning systems.  Climate Change WFP/Simon Pierre Diouf UN chief announces major push to transform harmful food systems The UN chief António Guterres set out a new plan to transform the world's food systems on Monday - coinciding with the start of World Food Week - which will culminate in a major summit, scheduled to take place in September next year. SDGs WFP/Mehedi Rahman Herd immunity, an 'unethical' COVID-19 strategy, Tedros warns policymakers Using the principle of so-called "herd immunity" to stem the COVID-19 pandemic is "unethical" and "not an option" countries should pursue to defeat the virus, the UN health agency chief warned on Monday. Health UNDP Bhutan UN chief urges ministers to provide 'decisive leadership' on climate action With nations striving to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impacts, efforts must focus on decarbonizing the global economy and building a more inclusive and resilient future, the UN Secretary-General said on Monday. Climate Change OCHA/Danielle Parry 'Staggering' rise in climate emergencies in last 20 years, new disaster research shows The first 20 years of this century have seen a "staggering" rise in climate disasters, UN researchers said on Monday, while also maintaining that "almost all nations" have failed to prevent a "wave of death and illness" caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Climate Change © UNFPA Bhutan COVID-19 sparks increased demand for mental health services: UNFPA While the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been staggering, the full impact on health has been far greater, according to the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).  The agency said fear, isolation, grief, economic stress  and shuttered support services have taken a toll on the mental well-being of people around the world. Health 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. 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