UN Security Council proposes 90-day global ceasefire for COVID-19 fight

The UN Security Council is proposing a 90-day "humanitarian pause" in ongoing global conflicts to facilitate the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The revised draft resolution, co-authored by France and Tunisia, expands the initial 30-day call for a pause to a longer period to allow for safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.

The proposed pause would apply to countries already under Security Council scrutiny, including Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Mali, Central African Republic, Libya, Colombia, and Sudan.

A significant hurdle in adopting the resolution is the disagreement over the role of the World Health Organization, with the United States having expressed criticism.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres had previously called for a global cease-fire on March 23, but hostilities have continued or even escalated in several nations.

Despite the proposed pause, some groups, like Colombia's National Liberation Army, have announced plans to resume operations.

The UN has also launched a humanitarian plan seeking over $2 billion for vulnerable countries facing the pandemic, with international financial institutions providing two-thirds of the estimated $90 billion needed to protect those most at risk from income loss.