Credit: Gary Raynaldo /  United Nations world headquarters in New York

By Gary Raynaldo     DIPLOMATIC TIMES

UNITED NATIONS  –   NEW YORK –  The UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday demanding a 90-day “humanitarian pause” in conflicts worldwide to allow states to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. U N Secretary-General Antonio Guterres first made an urgent call for the global cease fire March 23 but the resolution languished for months amid contentious diplomatic negotiations particularly between China and the  U.S. 

“Now, more than ever, the world must unite in its efforts to defeat COVID-19 and the global ceasefire demanded by the UN is meant to allow states to focus on this vital work. This is an important reminder that, in times of war and peace alike, states have a duty to ensure both security and access to healthcare.”

Sherine Tadros, Head of Amnesty International’s UN Office in New York said.

UN  Resolution Demands Immediate Cessation of Hostilities in All Situations:

1. Demands a general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations
on its agenda and supports the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General and his
Special Representatives and Special Envoys in that respect;

2. Calls upon all parties to armed conflicts to engage immediately in a
durable humanitarian pause for at least 90 consecutive days, in order to enable the
safe, unhindered and sustained delivery of humanitarian assistance, provisions of
related services by impartial humanitarian actors, in accordance with the
humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, and
medical evacuations, in accordance with international law, including international
humanitarian law and refugee law as applicable;

3. Affirms that this general and immediate cessation of hostilities and this
humanitarian pause do not apply to military operations against the Islamic State in
Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Da’esh), Al Qaeda and Al Nusra Front
(ANF), and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with
Al Qaeda or ISIL, and other terrorist groups, which have been designated by the
Security Council.

SOURCE: UN SECURITY COUNCIL