The Role of the United Nations in the COVID-19 Pandemic
The United Nations has taken a key role in battling the COVID-19 pandemic as the global unilateral signatory. UN has consistently championed for protection and attainment to international peace, security, and sustenance by effectively responding to the COVID-19 pandemic through its various agencies. Under the guidance of the World Health Organization, the various UN parts have played independent yet collective roles that have ensured the reduction of the spread of the COVID-19 across the world. The WHO declared the new coronavirus a pandemic on March 11, 2020, thereby giving the departments more authority and commitment to battle the menace. Thus, each of the UN departments has used their primary objectives to advise and take initiatives that have substantially helped nations reduce the pandemic’s risks and given way forward in normalcy resumption across the globe.
The United Nations’ Children Funds (UNICEF) has played a substantial role in the reduction of the COVID-19 virus. As the custodian of children, UNICEF has increased its efforts to ensure that children are protected during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The body increased its immunization services in areas like Myanmar by increasing immunization doses and COVID-19 test kits. The department has also increased its efforts to tackle immigration and displacement of children in Kachin State, which are more exposed to the COVID-19 (United Nations). At the same, UNICEF has repositioned itself in the child-riskier areas like Somalia that are more prone to pandemics. The institution has engaged other partners to supply over 900,000 people with clean water and other critical hygiene supplies in Somalia that increases their life-saving support to more vulnerable children. Besides, the body has also taken positively its already realized efforts as reflections for continuing and future efforts to help children overcome the risks of COVID-19. UNICEF is planning to take stronger measures in challenging environments across the globe. The program including increasing its sanitary supplies and other essential products to countries like Yemen, Venezuela, Liberia, and Afghanistan.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) notes that more children are likely to be pushed into child labor due to job losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, the institution has recommended increased testing and certification to reduce job losses by over 50% (United Nations). Increased testing championed by the institution has also reduced further spread of COVID-19, thereby saving more jobs across industries. At national levels, ILO works with governments to support income generation and employment as a labor protectionist initiative. For instance, ILO has helped Jordan formulate labor committees that increased awareness of COVID-19 among workers and employers and the creation of responses initiatives to facilitate employees’ work safely. The institution also helped in the rescue of over 150,000 seafarers trapped in ships across the world. Thus, the ILO is currently in negotiation with other organizations like IMF and World Bank to increase their pandemic supports funds to help nations cushion companies against harsh COVID-19 risks and future job losses.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has added the COVID-19 pandemic to its humanitarian catastrophes hence demanding an urgent response to it. The body recognizes that gang attacks that take advantage of COVID-19 pose great risks to many innocent civilians. This is in the exception of millions in refugees managed by the body that are at risk of contracting COVID-19. As such, UNHCR has increased its surveillance and safety measures of refugees to prevent their contraction of COVID-19. The programs focus on refugees in Sahel, Mali, and other places. UNHCR launched a $186 million appeal for the Sahel to prevent further spread of COVID-19 (United Nations). The institution also made more current appeals for funding to facilitate the creation of displaced sites, purchase of relief items, and response to gender-based and sexual violence that is reported to have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, UNHCR is also appealing for funds more for education, health, and livelihood of refugees and displaced people likely to increase after COVID-19.
The World Food Program (WFP) has contributed to COVID-19 mitigation plans. WFP has warned and provided guidelines on the collection and transportation of food programs to needy areas constrained by global transportation restrictions. Under the Global Humanitarian Response Plan issued in May, the WFP budgeted $965 million in food and other humanitarian needs across the globe (United Nations). WFP has also distributed 78,000 cubic meters of humanitarian and medical items in response to COVID-19 (United Nations). Besides, in future response, WFP projects 700,000 cubic meters of humanitarian and medical needs to vulnerable groups in response to COVID-19 by the end of the year.
The UN has also incorporated the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Development Program (UNDP) in countering the COVID-19 crisis. IOM safely helped stranded gold miners in Burkina Faso to reach their homes in Niger. This is an effort to help stranded migrants even amidst the COVID-19 crisis. IOM also worked with authorities in Cox’s Bazaar to locally make 100,000 bottles of hand sanitizers for the communities (United Nations). The institution has also supported the creation of more than 40 shelters, hygiene kits, and sanitation items to migrants in Mexico. The institution is pledging more to ensure it stops the spread of COVID-19 amongst migrants by the end of the year to get life back to normal. The UNDP also contributed $35.9 million in development and $4.1 million used to purchase personal protective equipment in Zimbabwe to counter the spread of COVID-19 (United Nations). UNDP also supports the business communities affected by the lockdown. Moreover, to get life back to normal, UNDP is proposing working with over 870,000 small scale farmers to continue production and supply of food during and after the crisis thereby preventing harsher effects of the post- COVID-19 situations.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) also has a hand in prevention of COVID-19 spread and return to normalcy. The ICJ has issued various legal guidance to nations and other UN agencies to ensure that they fully operate within their legal mandate to help life back to normalcy. ICJ has stressed the importance of states’ acceptance of health jurisdictions issued by WHO and the UN in curbing the spread of COVID-19 (Sandrine). Moreover, under return to work formulas given by WHO and other UN agencies, ICJ under articles 11 and 76 of the UN Charter and WHO Constitution respectively, has advised stakeholders on collective mitigation plans and work resumption.
Concisely, the agencies’ works and commitment to get life back to normalcy is supported by WHO guidelines. The agencies have consistently given guidance and updates on the situation and responsive measure to the COVID-19. The agencies took necessary health measures to ensure that nations and individuals take the right step to overcome the immense effect of the pandemic. Their actions under the umbrella of the UN remain at the center of the progress already achieved in reducing the spread of COVID-19. Together with WHO guidelines such as keeping an effective social distance, regularly washing hands, sanitization of hands and surfaces, mass testing, and quarantine, the agencies’ efforts have been caused by the reduced spread of COVID-19 virus. Therefore, through its roles are divided along with departments, the UN has guided nations to overcome the harsh effects of COVID-19 across the globe. Moreover, the institution issues continuous updates and medical reservations that guides the resumption of normalcy from the pandemic.
Works Cited
Sandrine, De Herdt. A References to the ICJ for an Advisory Opinion over COVID-19 Pandemic. European Journal of International Law. May 20, 2020. https://www.ejiltalk.org/a-reference-to-the-icj-for-an-advisory-opinion-over-covid-19-pandemic/
United Nations. UN Response to COVID-19 Pandemic. Better World Campaign. 2020. https://betterworldcampaign.org/un-response-to-global-pandemic/