Conflict and COVID-19: War and instability during a pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to further destabilise international peace and security, and the UN Security Council has passed a unanimous resolution demanding the “immediate cessation of hostilities” in conflict zones around the world. As international aid workers, journalists and diplomats are returning to their home countries, what will happen to the people left behind?

With the disruption of humanitarian supply chains and the distraction away from peace negotiations, civilians caught in the midst of armed conflict, and refugees and displaced people fleeing violence will bear the brunt of the pandemic.

During this forum our expert panel will consider the following:

• What is the impact of the pandemic on populations living in fragile and conflict settings, in the Indo Pacific and around the world?
• How are political and peace making processes being influenced or derailed by the pandemic, how is instability is being fueled and exploited, and what does this mean for the future?
• How is the pandemic causing new displacement and how is this impacting on previously displaced populations?

Join us this World Humanitarian Day to explore the current and potential impacts of COVID-19 in conflict zones.

This is the final online forum of the  No Safe Space: Crisis response in COVID-19  four-part series co-presented by the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership,  Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and  Humanitarian Advisory Group (HAG).

Watch the full recording of ‘COVID-19 and Localisation: Shifting the power, or shifting the risk?’, held on 21 May 2020.

Watch the full recording of ‘COVID-19 and Health: Is flattening the curve costing lives?’, held on 18 June 2020.