"SECRETARY-GENERAL"

The Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Ghada Waly said, “as the Security Council has recognized, linkages between terrorism and organized crime are complex and multifaceted, posing a serious threat to international peace and security.” UNIFEED

The UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his “deepest condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the people and Government of Lebanon, following the horrific explosions in Beirut.” UNIFEED

The COVID-19 pandemic has created the largest disruption to education in history and prolonged school closures could further entrench inequalities in access to learning, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on a video message released today. UNIFEED

“The UN remains concerned about a possible humanitarian disaster in Libya should the current escalation and mobilization around Sirte lead to military operations,” a UN spokesperson said on Monday. UNIFEED

Briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

With COVID-19 aggravating an already severe hunger crisis in Zimbabwe, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday appealed for an additional (USD) 250 million to support a rapidly expanding emergency operation for millions at-risk. UNIFEED

On a video message for the launch of policy brief on the impact of COVID-19 in Southeast Asia, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the health, economic and political impact of the pandemic “has been significant across Southeast Asia — hitting the most vulnerable the hardest,” highlighting “deep inequalities, shortfalls in governance and the imperative for a sustainable development pathway.” UNIFEED

Briefing the Security Council, UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said, “humanitarian aid operations across Syria are reaching an average of 6.8 million people each month,” adding that the economic crisis in the country is "deepening poverty and pushing more people into humanitarian need.” UNIFEED

Briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Unanimously adopting resolution 2536 (2020), Security Council extends sanctions against Central African Republic, expert panel supporting compliance.