PGA strongly endorses the UN Secretary-General's appeal to halt all active armed conflicts in the world and enact a universal ceasefire binding all Parties in war-zones. The natural disaster that is provoking a global health crisis requires unity and international cooperation. Man-made disasters produced by wars must come to an end.

In an appeal issued on Monday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged warring parties across the world to lay down their weapons in support of the bigger battle against COVID-19: the common enemy that is now threatening all of humankind.

The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war. That is why today, I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world. It is time to put armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives. UN Secretary-General António Guterres

The ceasefire would allow humanitarians to reach populations that are most vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19, which first emerged in Wuhan, China, last December, and has now been reported in more than 180 countries.

As the UN chief pointed out, COVID-19 does not care about nationality or ethnicity, or other differences between people, and “attacks all, relentlessly”, including during wartime.

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It’s time to end the sickness of war and fight the disease that is ravaging our world – the #coronavirus pandemic.

It starts by stopping the fighting everywhere. Now.

That is what our human family needs, now more than ever.https://t.co/K08WmglU2X

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) March 23, 2020