Humanitarian Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) - UNICEF 2020

March 2020 - In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic the United Nations launched the Global Humanitarian Response Plan (GHRP) on March 25th 2020. The GHRP seeks to respond to the direct public health and immediate humanitarian consequences of the pandemic. The GHRP’s three strategic priorities include: (1) containing the spread of the pandemic; (2) decreasing the deterioration of human assets and rights social cohesion and livelihoods; and (3) protecting assisting and advocating for refugees internally displaced people migrants and host communities particularly those who are most vulnerable to the pandemic. Project activities include: (1) providing critical medical and water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) supplies and enhancing infection prevention and control; (2) providing access to continuous education child protection and gender-based violence services disrupted by the pandemic; (3) providing access to basic health care services including mental health and psychosocial services; (4) supporting risk communication and community engagement including behavior-focused participatory interventions and targeted messages on self- isolation measures to at-risk groups; and (5) collecting data and analysis on the secondary impacts of COVID-19.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is contained and morbidity and mortality in humanitarian contexts has decreased; (2) preserved the ability of the most vulnerable to meet their basic needs while ensuring safety from risks of infection; and (3) increased protection assistance and advocacy for refugees internally displaced people migrants and host communities particularly those who are vulnerable to the pandemic. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained for the populations in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.