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UN's Global Cease-fire Plea Falls on Deaf Ears

Jamie Dettmer

   As the pandemic started to unfold early in 2020,U.N.Secretary-General
   Antonio Guterres made a plea for a global cease-fire, saying theworld
   needed to focus on"the true fight" against the coronavirus.

   "Silencing the guns will not only support the fight against COVID-19,
   but also create opportunities for life-saving aid, open windows for
   diplomacy,and bring hope to people suffering in conflict zones who are
   particularly vulnerable to the pandemic," he said.

   "Our world faces a common enemy: COVID-19. The virus does not care
   about nationality or ethnicity, faction or faith. It attacks all,
   relentlessly. Meanwhile, armed conflict rages on around the world,"
   Guterres added.

   Nearly200countries endorsed his cease-fire plea--so, too,didthe
   U.N.Security Council, regional multilateral organizations and
   civil-society groups. But the plea overall fell on deaf ears.

   Conflicts continued to rage across the world--somewerethe continuation
   of pre-pandemicwars;others, flare-ups of pre-existing disputes.

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