Since COVID-19 hit Afghanistan, it has posed a dreadful dilemma for the Afghan nomads, the Kuchis, get sick or go hungry. tells the experience of the Kuchis, who normally make a living by herding sheep, goats and camels around the country. Under lockdown, that lifestyle has become very difficult to maintain. For most people, the lockdown measures greatly reduce their exposure to the virus. But for the Kuchis, they pose the danger of blocking their usual trade of livestock and dairy products – and without trade, they have no income and face a shortage of food.
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Syria are in the low hundreds, but it is only a matter of time before the disease reaches those sheltering in camps in the war-torn country.
With the COVID-19 pandemic receding in some countries and cities, the United Nations is working with Governments to fine-tune plans to reopen battered economies, warning that complacency and lifting “stay-at-home” orders and other restrictions too fast could invite a second wave of new cases. A resurgence of new cases is already occurring after they lifted lockdowns, even in countries that had successfully flattened the COVID-19 curve. In countries seeing positive signs, “the biggest threat now is ,” said Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
With children spending large portions of the day at home due to COVID-19, the United Nations is helping families use the opportunity to teach young people about global challenges, including not only the health pandemic but also poverty, hunger and climate change. Drawing on the power of storytelling to foster positive social change, a plethora of books, board games and public service ads developed by the UN are teaching children how to stay healthy and safe, support others during the crisis, and play a role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Community volunteers visit Myanmar slums with COVID-19 information
Provision of lifesaving COVID-19 protection gear to vulnerable households living in Sabra, including refugees and migrants, in order to help them better protect themselves against the spread of COVID-19.
As COVID-19 has brought tourism to a complete standstill, the United Nations is working closely with international organizations, Governments and the private sector to support the responsible and timely recovery of the sector, on which millions of small businesses and jobs depend. The global tourism decline has already taken a toll on national economies, people’s livelihoods and efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. issued a package of guidance to Member States on economic recovery, marketing and promotion, and institutional strengthening and resilience building.
The COVID-19 pandemic is more than a health crisis; it is an economic, humanitarian, security, and human rights crisis. This crisis has highlighted severe fragilities and inequalities within and among nations. Coming out of this crisis will require a whole-of-society, whole-of-government and whole-of-the-world approach driven by compassion and solidarity. The UN Secretary-General has launched the UN Comprehensive Response to COVID-19 to save lives, protect societies, recover better. This includes policy briefs to provide ideas to governments on how to address the consequences of this crisis.
Coronavirus is the least of concerns in the ‘Venice of Africa’
The ocean and COVID-19
For people on the front lines of climate change and conflict, COVID-19 is a new challenge
Kenya’s public minibuses helps drive the COVID-19 prevention message home
The coronavirus crisis is a crisis like no other, and for emerging market and developing economies, it has triggered a policy response like no other. This large group of countries have bolstered health services and extended unprecedented support to households, firms, and financial markets. While limited policy space has kept the response at a smaller magnitude than in advanced economies, some even managed to help other countries. The ’s&Բ; summarizes common threads to their COVID-19 responses.
has called for urgent and coordinated action to release the 150,000 to 200,000 seafarers trapped on board ships around the world because of measures to contain the COVID-19 virus.
Life during the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult for parents and children alike. provides the latest information of what parents need to know to prepare for school reopening.