The United Nations Security Council on Thursday recognised the Covid-19 pandemic as a security threat with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warning that it could “potentially lead to an increase in social unrest and violence that would greatly undermine our ability to fight the disease”.

The UN’s most powerful body, which has been silent on the novel coronavirus since it started circling the globe, issued its first brief press statement after the closed meeting. It expressed “support for all efforts of the secretary-general concerning the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to conflict-affected countries and recalled the need for unity and solidarity with all those affected".

Guterres, who had called for a ceasefire for all global conflicts on March 23, said the crisis has “hindered international, regional and national conflict resolution efforts, exactly when they are needed most.” The economic fallout of the situation is closely linked to its potential of not just social unrest but also undermining of women’s rights, he said.

Despite the global challenge of tackling Covid-19 he warned that the “threat of terrorism remains alive.” In fact, he didn’t mince word in saying terrorists could actually use this period when governments are totally engaged with the pandemic as an “opportunity to strike”. He cited other pressing risks to global security from the pandemic: groups seeing how a biological terrorist attack might unfold, the erosion of trust in public institutions, economic instability, political tensions from postponing elections or referenda, uncertainty sparking further division and turmoil in some countries, and COVID-19 “triggering or exacerbating various human rights challenges".

India itself has seen a fierce encounter in Keran sector this week in which five special force soldiers died fighting terrorists. Lt Gen BS Raju, 15 Corps Commander, had said, “The whole world is fighting Covid-19 and its aftermath, and here is Pakistan, aiding and abetting infiltration.”

It is also significant that the UN has recognised stimatising of communities and hate speech around Covid-19 also as a significant potential threat to peace.

In India, the minority community has been targeted and communal hashtags like ‘CoronaJihad’ were made to trend on Twitter. Students from the Northeast have complained of hate and discrimination and even doctors have complained of harassment.

Significantly, in view of the backlash against China for the origin of the virus in Wuhan and for possible suppression of information, Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said, “It’s a warfare. Warfare against an invisible enemy. To win against it and to overcome its consequences, we need also to overcome our prejudices, phobias, hatreds, distrust, suspicions.”

Meanwhile, in its statement to the UNSC, China said that it supports the secretary-general’s appeal for global ceasefire during the fight against the pandemic. On Thursday, the Saudi Arabia-led coalition forces declared a unilateral two week ceasefire in Yemen to fight the novel coronavirus.

News18 has learnt that China had resisted a discussion on the matter in the UNSC. It had the Council Presidency till March 30, so any attempt during this period was thwarted. From April, Dominican Republic took over the presidency of the UNSC.

On Thursday, the secretary-general also reiterated that the United Nations faces “its gravest test” since the organization was founded 75 years ago from the pandemic and concluded saying: “This is the fight of a generation — and the raison d’être of (the reason for) the United Nations itself.”

(With PTI inputs)