Story

A Coordinated Response to Coronavirus

22 July 2020

The UN Secretary-General urged all countries to take comprehensive approach tailored to their circumstances.
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On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) characterized the coronavirus (COVID-19) viral disease as a pandemic, but it is a pandemic that can be controlled. Coronavirus (COVID-19) is the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus. ”

The UN Secretary-General urged all countries to take a comprehensive approach tailored to their circumstances – with containment as the central pillar. COVID-19 is affecting thousands of people, impacting countries’ health systems and having widespread social and economic effects. The UN entities working on development, the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, are supporting countries in their preparedness and response plans.

A story on the visual review of key actions taken by the UN Team in BiH during the immediate response to the Covid-19 outbreak in BiH can be seen here, and the translated visual overview here. Regular updates on the response and recovery work of the UN team in BiH are provided in the Situation Reports.

The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is attacking societies at their core, claiming lives and people’s livelihoods. The potential longer-term effects on the global economy and those of individual countries are dire. In a new report launched 31 March, Shared responsibility, global solidarity: Responding to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, the United Nations Secretary-General calls on everyone to act together to address this impact and lessen the blow to people.

To that end, the Secretary-General has established a dedicated COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to support efforts in low- and middle-income countries. Its approach underpins the reformed UN with a coordinated multi-agency, multi-sectoral response for priority national and local actions to address the socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

More information translated for BiH found here: https://bosniaherzegovina.un.org/sites/default/files/2020-04/UN_Covid19%20Response_izvjestaj%20sazetak.pdf

This Report is complemented with a Roadmap published 27 April, aimed to serve the United Nations teams across the world in shaping Covid-19 recovery efforts (within 5 key streams of action); more information translated for BiH found here: https://bosniaherzegovina.un.org/index.php/en/43415-new-normal-un-lays-out-roadmap-lift-economies-and-save-jobs-after-covid-19

Making sure that no one is left behind during response and recovery efforts, the United Nations are providing thematic policy briefs and recommendations, including:

Human Rights and Covid-19 (translation for BiH): https://bosniaherzegovina.un.org/en/42822-human-rights-and-covid19-we-are-all-together
Impact on Children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z02W9zh5v6Q https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/policy_brief_on_covid_impact_on_children_16_april_2020.pdf
Impact on Women: https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/policy_brief_on_covid_impact_on_women_9_apr_2020_updated.pdf
Impact on Older People (translation for BiH): https://bosniaherzegovina.un.org/en/44219-our-response-covid-19-must-respect-rights-and-dignity-older-people
Disability- Inclusive Response: https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/we-have-unique-opportunity-design-and-implement-more-inclusive-and-accessible-societies
Impact on People on the Move: https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/covid-19-crisis-opportunity-reimagine-human-mobility
Impact on Mental Health: https://www.un.org/en/coronavirus/mental-health-services-are-essential-part-all-government-responses-covid-19

In adapting the global UN policy recommendations to Bosnia and Herzegovina context, the UN team in BiH is undertaking 30 thematic assessments at the moment. The assessments will help strengthen health, economic and social response and recovery in BiH. This running list will be updated as of June 2020; finalized and available assessments are:

Covid-19 Economic Impact Assessment and the Economic Pulse of BiH - as conducted by UNDP BiH: https://bosniaherzegovina.un.org/en/47723-economic-recovery-requires-urgent-and-comprehensive-interventions
Accompanying presentation of key results: https://bit.ly/EIACOVID_UNDPBiH_Presentation

This page convenes sources of information and guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) regarding the current outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). WHO is working closely with global experts, governments and partners to track the spread and to provide guidance to countries and individuals on measures to protect health and prevent the spread of this outbreak.

A Partners Platform for international response to the Covid-19 outbreak has been set-up and can be accessed here: https://covid-19-response.org/

To stay up to date with the latest information, please visit: