There has been a lot of misinformation on COVID-19: no, putting pepper in your soup won’t help and house flies do not transmit the virus, these are some of the rumours. Help us put it straight – stamp out the rumours – be properly informed – have a look at the WHO myth buster page.
You can also find more information and keep
up to date on the UN Coronavirus Global
Emergency Site.
Science, Solidarity, Solutions.
As the United Nations marks its 75th anniversary, the question of Palestine remains distressingly unresolved.
The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated the Palestinian economy and undermined the already fragile humanitarian, economic and political situation in Gaza, further entrenched by crippling restrictions on movement and access.
Meanwhile, prospects for a viable two-State solution are growing more distant. A host
of factors continue to cause great misery, including: the expansion of illegal settlements, a significant spike in the demolition of Palestinian homes and structures, violence and continued militant activity. Continue reading
Worldwide, persons with disabilities experience higher levels of unemployment and economic inactivity than non-disabled persons. Ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Mike Hess, US-based entrepreneur and founder of the Blind Institute of Technology, spoke to UN News as part of the International Labour Organization (ILO) photography project “Dignity at Work: The American Experience”.More
Although much progress has been made in highlighting the pressing issue of violence against women and girls, UN Secretary-General António Guterres is pushing the world to go further towards ending what he has characterized as a blight on all societies. More
Violence against women and girls is a global human rights challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed this issue as a global emergency requiring urgent action at all levels, in all spaces and by all people. The social and economic fallout from the pandemic is disproportionately pushing women and girls into poverty, and the risk of violence against them is rising. Continue reading
Along with other tried and tested public health measures, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) told journalists on Monday that “there is now real hope” that vaccines will play an essential part in helping end the COVID pandemic. More
International donors pledged financial and political support for Afghanistan’s peace process at the 2020 Afghanistan Conference in Geneva on Tuesday, anticipating a sustainable ceasefire that will help the country rebuild and heal after decades of conflict. More
The Head of the UN Office in Fiji , Mr. Sanaka Samarasinha explains what it is like visiting the remote islands of Fiji, who he went with, why he went and who he spoke with – he ends by stressing that climate change is unfolding in a very serious tragic way on these remote islands we must all rise to the of this existential threat and leave no-one behind- An UNIC Canberra interview for UN Radio. Listen
In an address on Thursday at an event for UN staff, Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the need to confront racism within the world body, initiating a series of discussions on the subject. More
Donating goods overseas after disasters can be unhelpful and even harmful and with the Pacific Cyclone season now in full swing the World Food Programme this week started a campaign urging people to donate responsibly.
Julia Dean from the United Nations Information Centre in Canberra spoke with Jo Pilgrim, Director of WFP’s Pacific Multi-Country office in Fiji and first asked what are the goods often donated and where does this generosity come from? Listen
Image: UBDs in Vanuatu : Photo: Vanuatu National Disaster Management Office
Asian and Pacific nations are increasingly leveraging space technology and geospatial information to respond to challenges on the ground, including in their efforts to contain the spread and mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new United Nations report. More