NEWS

Asia is growing strongly in 2021, but there is still much uncertainty and risk to the economic outlook, the IMF says in the newly released Asia Pacific Regional Economic Outlook released today in Washington, DC. IMF

The spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, announced a “high-level and inclusive conference” between representatives of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban to take place in Istanbul from 24 April to the 4 May. UNIFEED

“Kosovo remains under relentless pressure from the spread of the COVID-19 virus,” causing over 2,000 deaths in total, “one of the highest per capita” in the world, said the top UN official in Kosovo Zahir Tanin. UNIFEED

The situation of families and individuals who have abandoned their belongings and livelihoods in northern Mozambique after the heinous attacks end of March in the town of Palma in Cabo Delgado province remains desperate. UNTV CH

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged States to take immediate, decisive and impactful measures to push Myanmar’s military leadership into halting its campaign of repression and slaughter of its people. UNTV CH

In a statement read by a UN spokesperson, the Secretary-General reiterated his” deep concern” about the developments in Myanmar, adding that “the most recent reports of violence and killings by security forces are appalling.” UNIFEED

UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region said he is “particularly concerned about the level of violence which continues to affect the security of individuals, in particular that of women and young people,” in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. UNIFEED

Secretary-General António Guterres noted that just 10 countries account for around 75 percent of global COVID-19 vaccinations, while other countries have yet to start. He said, “a global vaccine gap threatens everyone’s health and wellbeing.” UNIFEED

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the COVID-19 pandemic is “a long way from over,” but stressed that with a “concerted effort to apply public health measures alongside equitable vaccination, we could bring this pandemic under control in a matter of months.” WHO

Transmitted by the blood-sucking triatomine bug called Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), Chagas disease, a neglected disease, currently affects between 6 and 7 million people worldwide and kills an estimated 10,000 people annually. UNITAID