UN calls to pause all armed conflicts due to pandemic

The United Nations concerned over the armed conflicts’ intensifying despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, the UN Secretary-General has called for global cease-fires to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak. However, many armed and border conflicts never stopped, including in Syria, Yemen and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Moreover, while the planet is struggling against the coronavirus, new civil wars erupted, ABC News said.

According to Mark Lowcock, this has made it more difficult to control the spread of the novel pathogen and care for infected people in many countries. In his address at the UN Security Council on Tuesday, the diplomat cites “multiple reports of atrocities” against civilians caught in conflicts during the pandemic

Insecurity, sanctions, counter-terrorism measures and administrative hurdles are hindering humanitarian operations. Amid the pandemic, it is really harder to make aid deliveries because of suspended flights, border closures, quarantine measures and lockdowns, Lowcock added.