Aktuelle Informationen zu Friedenseinsätzen und COVID-19

[…] In the history of human societies, major crises are always heralded by warning signs or events. And major crises usually have an accelerating effect on trends. This is why it would make more sense to look at the consequences of covid-19 from the point of view of how this crisis could magnify dynamics that are already at work. What are these dynamics? I can see three: … .

Between the African Union, European Union, OSCE, NATO and United Nations there are approximately 160,000 civilian, police and military personnel deployed in more than 50 missions. These missions have all been forced to take unprecedented steps to adapt and cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. This may be just the beginning and much more significant reductions and changes in the way these operations function may be needed over the coming months.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has accused China and Russia of spreading disinformation regarding the organization’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. “We have several examples of statements coming from Moscow and Beijing, which are not correct, which try to undermine the cohesion of NATO allies, and also portrays NATO in the absolutely wrong way,” Stoltenberg told a video roundtable with RFE/RL and other media on April 27.

This paper uses three case studies to highlight the importance for international security of prevention strategies and the anticipation of the impact of crisis situations, particularly to help address future crises and conflict. More specifically, the three are 1) the impact of climate change and geopolitical change on the Arctic; 2) the implications of inequality and the crisis in multilateralism for the Sahel; and 3) the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on global health and the economy.

On 14 April 2020 the Peace and Security Council (PSC) met to deliberate on the impact of COVID-19 on peace and security in Africa. It noted that its ongoing work to Silence The Guns will be negatively affected by the pandemic, but emphasised that the PSC’s protocol stipulate that it shall take an active role in coordinating and conducting humanitarian action in the event of conflicts or natural disasters, including outbreaks of pandemics.

United Nations peace operations promote stability and security in some of the world’s most dangerous and fragile places. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, overstretched UN peacekeepers—civilian, military, and police—were a thin blue line helping to protect civilians, support peace agreements and contain conflicts in hot spots and war zones across the globe. If—or more likely when—the COVID-19 virus further spreads in countries already weakened by war and poverty, it will not only threaten the lives of the thousands, but could also tip the balance from tenuous peace back to conflict and despair.

The world is at risk of widespread famines "of biblical proportions" caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the UN has warned. David Beasley, head of the World Food Programme (WFP), said urgent action was needed to avoid a catastrophe. ... Those most at risk are in 10 countries affected by conflict, economic crisis and climate change, the WFP says.

Initial results of a UN initiative to help decide the future direction of the Organization have revealed overwhelming support for international cooperation, which has grown significantly since COVID-19 began spreading around the world. The data, gathered from hundreds of conversations, and an online survey involving some 186 countries, form part of the United Nations’ 75th anniversary initiative (UN75). Launched in January 2020, this is the largest exercise mounted by the Organization to gather public opinion and crowdsource solutions to global challenges.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus at the beginning of the year, the African Union (AU) has been active in coordinating responses across Africa and has been praised for its quick reaction to the pandemic.

[…] COVID-19 not only complicates the existing peace and security challenges in many countries but also constitutes an additional security problem for those already dealing with crises. As of 13 April 2020, West Africa had recorded the second highest number of people that tested positive for COVID-19 in Africa, after North Africa.