The conference was to take place between 20 to 24 April 2020. It was to be attended by climate, environment and water experts together with government technocrats in Africa.
Health workers in Ethiopiaon alert against the virus
The UN Climate Change secretariat in Bonn has postponed the Africa Climate
Week conference that was to take place in Kampala.
The UN Climate body in a statement said in a statement that the activity has
been put on hold on hold to ensure the health and safety of all participants in
light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The meeting, which was planned to take place 20 to 24 April 2020 normally
attracts climate, environment and water experts together with government technocrats
in Africa.
The postponement comes just as the organising committee comprised of
Ministry of Environment, Kampala Capital City Authority as well as Uganda
National Meteorology Authority officials planned to have one of their last coordination
meeting this Friday.
The Ministry of Health in Kampala had
indicated to the organisers that participants from the most affected countries
would be held quarantine in government hospitals if they displayed symptoms, or
would be placed in self-isolation for 14 days if they did not display symptoms.
The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) therefore asked
that events and workshops with participants from affected countries to be
placed on hold so as not to contravene instructions from the Government of
Uganda and for the safety and wellbeing of UN personnel working in Uganda.
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat however said Uganda
will remain the host country, and preparations should continue.
The postponement comes just as the organising committee comprised of
Ministry of Environment, Kampala Capital City Authority as well as Uganda
National Meteorology Authority officials planned to have one of their last coordination
meeting this Friday.
Participants were expected to share ways for governments to implement the
Paris Agreement in Africa and to serve as a platform for national governments
and non-Party stakeholders to engage, build partnerships and explore solutions
that can deliver climate action and support at scale.
The central objective of Africa Climate Week is to share ways for
governments to implement the Paris Agreement in Africa, making use of all the
planning tools and support available under the Paris Agreement.The global death toll from the
new coronavirus passed 4,000 on Tuesday as China reported 17 new deaths. The
toll reached 4,011 in the outbreak that has spread to over 100 countries with
more than 110,000 cases of infection.
Egypt on Monday 55 infections of
novel coronavirus. The authorities expressed major concerns on the severe
impact due to the virus on Egypt's crucial tourism sector.
By early today, Germany had confirmed two Coronavirus Deaths, 1,100
Infected.