United Nations published this video item, entitled “GA holds special session in response to COVID-19 & other topics – Daily Briefing (03 December 2020)” – below is their description.
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Secretary-General/General Assembly Special Session on COVID-19
– Security Council Security Sector Reforms
– Ethiopia/Sudan
– Yemen
– Unicef/Emergency Funding Appeal
– Central African Republic Elections Update
– Democratc Republic Of The Congo
– France
– International Day Of Persons With Disabilities
– Malawi/Disabilities
– Food Price Index
– Oceans
SECRETARY-GENERAL/GENERAL ASSEMBLY SPECIAL SESSION ON COVID-19
This morning, the Secretary-General addressed the General Assembly’s Special Session in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said that, for the first time since 1945, the entire world is confronted by a common threat, regardless of nationality, ethnicity or faith.
Mr. Guterres noted that, while COVID-19 does not discriminate, our efforts to prevent and contain it do, adding that it has hit the poorest and most vulnerable the hardest.
While a vaccine may be available soon, the Secretary-General stressed that we must not fool ourselves – a vaccine cannot undo the damage that will stretch across years, even decades, to come.
As this difficult year draws to a close, he said we must resolve to take the tough, ambitious decisions and actions that will lead to better days ahead.
The Secretary-General added that, in a global crisis, we must meet the expectations of those we serve with unity, solidarity and coordinated multilateral global action.
SECURITY COUNCIL SECURITY SECTOR REFORMS
This morning, the Security Council held a meeting on security sector reform.
Briefing on behalf of the United Nations Secretariat, Assistant Secretary-General Bintou Keita, said that for societies recovering from conflict and instability, Security Sector Reform holds a great promise,
Adding that there is broad recognition that this is a key element of UN support to national efforts to sustain peace and prevent “the outbreak, escalation, continuation and recurrence of conflict” across the entire peace continuum.
But she reminded Council members that expectations need to be realistic. Security Sector Governance and Reform is a complex and long-term endeavour, sometimes spanning a generation.
Therefore, she concluded, it is important that UN support in this area remain firmly grounded in and informed by the security needs of the population, taking into account each unique context and historical experience.
ETHIOPIA/SUDAN
A humanitarian mission has been on the ground in Afar since yesterday to assess the most immediate needs of people displaced by the conflict in Tigray and guide our response.
This follows the agreement between the UN in Ethiopia and the Federal Government to facilitate the access of aid organizations to areas under the control of the Government.
The conflict in Tigray continues to push people into Sudan in search of safety. More than 46,400 people – nearly half of them children – have now arrived in Sudan since the start of November.
UNHCR and its partners are increasing the capacity of the Um Rakuba camp, which is already hosting more than 10,000 Ethiopian refugees.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=03%20December%202020
United Nations YouTube Channel
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