While the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc around the globe, the remoteness of the Pacific Islands has left people living there vulnerable in many different ways. 

UN Resident Coordinator Sanaka Samarasinha said in an interview with UN News, that with borders and airports shut down, protection gear, specialist personnel, and life-saving medical supplies have been unable to reach many areas in need.

And the crisis has only been heightened by the devastation inflicted by category 5 Cyclone Harold, which ripped through Vanuatu. 

While the COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc around the globe, the remoteness of the Pacific Islands has left people living there vulnerable in many different ways. 

UN Resident Coordinator Sanaka Samarasinha said in an interview with UN News, that with borders and airports shut down, protection gear, specialist personnel, and life-saving medical supplies have been unable to reach many areas in need.

Making sure that information about COVID-19 is accurate, and how to stay protected, is crucial to getting the pandemic under control.

Making sure that information about COVID-19 is accurate, and how to stay protected, is crucial to getting the pandemic under control.

Even in the overcrowded places like refugee camps, the UN is working towards potentially life-saving behavior change, asking people to stay ‘home’, because social distancing will mean at least some “family protection”.

Referring to the low number of cases in Gaza so far as “good news”, Matthias Schmale, director of the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) has warned in an interview with UN News, that local hospitals would not have the capacity to deal with coronavirus and there are not enough tests to go round.

Mr. Schmale, spoke to UN News Arabic’s Hazem Balousha, who’s based in the Israeli-controlled enclave.

Even in the overcrowded places like refugee camps, the UN is working towards potentially life-saving behavior change, asking people to stay ‘home’, because social distancing will mean at least some “family protection”.

Referring to the low number of cases in Gaza so far as “good news”, Matthias Schmale, director of the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) has warned in an interview with UN News, that local hospitals would not have the capacity to deal with coronavirus and there are not enough tests to go round.

Mr. Schmale, spoke to UN News Arabic’s Hazem Balousha, who’s based in the Israeli-controlled enclave.

While performing their mandated duties “24/7” on land, in the air, and at sea, UN peacekeepers in Lebanon are also supporting local communities in preventing the spread of COVID-19, according to their Force Commander.

Major General Stefano Del Col spoke to May Yaacoub about activities during what he has described as “a challenging period”, and the measures UNIFIL took after one peacekeeper was found to have the disease. 

While performing their mandated duties “24/7” on land, in the air, and at sea, UN peacekeepers in Lebanon are also supporting local communities in preventing the spread of COVID-19, according to their Force Commander.

Major General Stefano Del Col spoke to May Yaacoub about activities during what he has described as “a challenging period”, and the measures UNIFIL took after one peacekeeper was found to have the disease. 

Supplies of personal protection equipment (PPE), masks and other medical items made in China are being sent to developing countries to support health workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in the country has said. 

Beate Trankmann spoke to Siwen Qian about the complications of securing supplies, how UNDP is ensuring the quality of the items being procured, and the pandemic’s impact on China’s economic development and its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Supplies of personal protection equipment (PPE), masks and other medical items made in China are being sent to developing countries to support health workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in the country has said. 

Beate Trankmann spoke to Siwen Qian about the complications of securing supplies, how UNDP is ensuring the quality of the items being procured, and the pandemic’s impact on China’s economic development and its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).