NEWS

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva gave a preview of the IMF’s economic outlook amidst the Coronavirus pandemic which will be the center of attention during the 2020 Virtual Spring Meetings next week. Georgieva emphasized the severity of the current crisis which, she said, calls for unprecedented action from the Fund. IMF

“It Is incredible to reflect on how dramatically the world has changed in such a short period of time,” said the head of the UN health agency WHO Dr Tedros, on the eve of the one hundredth day since the WHO was notified of the first cases of what will become known as COVID-19 in China. WHO

In a joint statement, current and former EU members of the Security Council said the start of the criminal trial in the District Court of Hague marks “an important milestone towards establishing truth and justice for the victims and their families, as well as towards holding those responsible for the downing of Flight MH17 to account.” UNIFEED

World trade is expected to fall by between 13 per cent and 32 per cent in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupts normal economic activity and life around the world, said the World Trade Organization (WTO). WTO

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a statement expressing his support for the World Health Organization (WHO) “as it is absolutely critical to the world’s efforts to win the war against Covid-19.” UNIFEED

UNICEF Spain has delivered a first batch of medical supplies to the Spanish health authorities to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The shipment includes 48,000 batches of hand sanitiser and 7,200 gloves, which have been provided to the health authorities for further distribution. More supplies are expected in the coming days. UNICEF

United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) urgently needs USD 130 million to sustain through August an emergency operation to prevent millions of the Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable people plunging deeper into hunger. WFP

The COVID-19 crisis is expected to wipe out 6.7 percent of working hours globally in the second quarter of 2020 - equivalent to 195 million full-time workers, according to a new report issued by the International Labour Organization. ILO

As the Ebola outbreak is coming to an end in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, health workers trained during the crisis are now using the skills they acquired to strengthen the healthcare system in the country. WHO

While no COVID-19 cases have been reported among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is taking supporting measures to prepare to face the pandemic, including building an isolation ward to treat patients. UNHCR