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Coronavirus: Antonio Guterres described the battle against COVID-19 as the fight of a generation
United Nations:
The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a “window” on how a bio-terrorist attack could unfold around the world, UN chief Antonio Guterres said, issuing a strong warning that non-state groups could gain access to “virulent strains” that could pose similar devastation to societies around the world.
The Secretary-General listed the urgent risks to the world due to the pandemic when he addressed the powerful UN Security Council, which for the first time discussed the coronavirus crisis in a closed videoconference session on Thursday under the Presidency of the Dominican Republic. .
Antonio Guterres described the battle against COVID-19 as “the struggle of a generation and the raison d’être of the United Nations itself.”
“While the COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a health crisis, its implications are much broader. The pandemic also represents a significant threat to the maintenance of international peace and security, which could lead to a increased social unrest and violence that would greatly undermine our ability to fight the disease, “said Antonio Guterres at his briefing for the UNSC.
“The weaknesses and lack of preparedness exposed by this pandemic provide a window on how a bio-terrorist attack could unfold and may increase its risks. Non-state groups could gain access to virulent strains that could represent similar devastation to societies of all the world”. ,” he said.
Antonio Guterres, expressing his strong concern that the threat of terrorism remains alive, said that “terrorist groups may see an opportunity to attack while the attention of most governments is directed towards the pandemic.”
Furthermore, in some conflict settings, the uncertainty created by the pandemic can create incentives for some actors to promote further division and turmoil.
“This could lead to an escalation of violence and possibly devastating miscalculations, which could further entrench ongoing wars and complicate efforts to combat the pandemic,” said Antonio Guterres.
According to estimates by the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, there are more than 1.6 million confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide, and more than 95,000 people have so far died of the disease.
The UN chief stressed that the crisis has hampered international, regional and national conflict resolution efforts, exactly when they are most needed.
Another major risk posed by the pandemic is that it is triggering or exacerbating various human rights challenges, and refugees and internally displaced persons are particularly vulnerable.
“We are seeing stigma, hate speech, and white supremacists and other extremists seeking to exploit the situation. We are witnessing discrimination in access to health services … And there are increasing manifestations of authoritarianism, including limits on the media, civic space and freedom of expression, “he said.
The coronavirus crisis has triggered ruinous social and economic impacts, as governments around the world struggle to find the most effective responses to rising unemployment and the economic recession.
Last month, Antonio Guterres had called for an immediate global ceasefire, urging all parties to the conflict to silence their weapons to help create conditions for aid delivery, open space for diplomacy and bring hope to the most dangerous places. vulnerable to the pandemic. .
He said he is encouraged by the support that his call for a global ceasefire has received from Heads of State and Government to regional partners, civil society activists and religious leaders.
“From South America to Africa and from the Middle East to Asia, we have seen the parties to the conflict take some initial steps to end the violence and combat the pandemic,” he said.
Two weeks ago, the UN chief also launched the Global Humanitarian Response Plan COVID-19, focusing on the needs of countries already facing a humanitarian crisis. The Central Emergency Response Fund has allocated USD 75 million and so far the Plan has received USD 396.5 million.
