WHO signs agreements to ensure 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine
WHO and the Gavi Vaccine Alliance have announced that they have already signed agreements to secure almost 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines for distribution among countries participating in the international COVAX initiative.
Most of the 10 producers with whom they have agreements have guaranteed access to a portion of the first batch of vaccines and more volume when there is more production.
Among the agreements is one with AstraZeneca Oxford to obtain 170 million doses and another with Johnson & Johnson for 500 million doses.
“Our goal is to start distributing in the first quarter of 2021, but it will depend on three things. Vaccine availability, obviously. That have been approved by regulatory authorities. And finally, and this is critical, that countries are ready ”, explained Seth Meyers, the director of Gavi.
UNICEF, which is one of the largest vaccine distributors in the world, is already prepared for a “gigantic and historic” task. “When available, we are preparing to transport 850 tons of vaccines per month next year. This is more than double the amount UNICEF is currently transporting, ”explained Henrietta Fore, UNICEF’s Executive Director. The agency will also install 70,000 vaccine refrigerators in poor and middle-income countries by the end of 2021. Most will run on solar energy.
More migrants die in South America and the Canary Islands despite the pandemic
ONU / Lulu Gao
More than 100 Venezuelans have died on dangerous sea voyages to Trinidad and Tobago.
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More than 3,000 migrants have died in 2020, according to data from the International Organization for Migration. The number of deaths around the world is lower than in other years, due to the movement restrictions of the pandemic; however, more Venezuelans have died in South America and more people trying to reach the Canary Islands in Spain
At least 593 people died en route to the Canary Islands, compared with 210 in 2019 and 45 in 2018. In South America, at least 104 people, the majority Venezuelans, compared to less than 40 in previous years.
The most dangerous migration route in the world is still that of the Mediterranean, where 1,773 people have drowned this year. On the border of Mexico and United States, 381 men, women and children have lost their lives.
The International Organization for Migration calls for safe and legal routes for migrants and that they be given health coverage against COVID-19. “To be honest, what I find intolerable in this current crisis is that, Although left behind, migrants have been at the forefront of the response to the pandemic, taking risks for the welfare of all. This has happened in many sectors, not only health, but food, commerce, research, care, whatever, ”said director Antonio Vitorino in an appearance for Migrant Day.
© Rehabilitarte / Alban Olive
A coordinator of a local NGO helps populations in Venezuela amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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UN human rights experts call on Venezuela to end the repression against civil society organizations.
The rapporteurs assure that “since November 2020 Venezuela has systematically stigmatized and persecuted to civil society organizations, dissenting voices and human rights defenders ”,
“Given the worrying socioeconomic situation in which the country finds itself, which worsened during the pandemic” the rapporteurs consider that these organizations, both national and international, “They are more essential than ever.”
Experts fear that the new National Assembly, arising from elections that the opposition has not recognized, will pass a law that “would significantly restrict NGO access to foreign financing”.
“These measures have had paralyzing effects”Say the experts who ask the new parliamentarians to protect NGOs and abolish the” Law Against Hate “of 2017 which, according to the rapporteurs, has been used to silence human rights defenders and critical voices.
The Hague Court will resolve the territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana
ONU / CIJ / Frank van Beek
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) passes judgment on the preliminary objections raised by the United States of America in the case concerning certain Iranian property in the Peace Palace in The Hague.
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The Hague court has decided that it has jurisdiction to judge the territorial dispute between Venezuela and Guyana over the Essequibo region.
By 12 votes to 4, the International Court of Justice has decided that it will try the case. Venezuela had argued that the court had no jurisdiction and refused to participate in the legal arguments presented months ago.
The controversy dates back to late nineteenth century. He General secretary The UN Commission sent the case to the International Court of Justice in The Hague in 2018.
According to press reports, the final decision could take several years. The The disputed region covers an area of about 160,000 square kilometers, which is three-quarters of Guyana’s territory. The controversy it has worsened after oil reserves were located in adjacent waters in 2015.
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