Coronavirus Global Update

LATEST NEWS

Updated:

Why child labour is on the rise around the world

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New fears emerge as COVID claims first life in world's largest refugee camp

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Calling on the Australian Government to prioritise the protection of First nations communities
1 in 3 children are worried about their parents income
How can you have social distancing of 2M when you've got 30cm between tents

108,579,352

Confirmed cases


Last updated: 16 February 2021

2,396,408

Confirmed deaths


Last updated: 16 February 2021

223

Countries, areas or territories with cases

Last updated: 16 February 2021

EDITOR'S PICKS

When social distancing is a luxury

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This woman has one source of income – and now it’s under threat from COVID-19

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Exclusive images from the frontlines
Staff members are distributing packages with essential food and hygiene items, to the extremely poor families in the Kapan Area
World Vision Afghanistan’s Mobile Health and Nutrition Teams help people to survive from COVID-19.
The community health workers as they take the boat to cross the Nile River.
All over the world, schools have been closed down to prevent the spread of the virus.

Windows to the World Interviews

Join World Vision Goodwill Ambassador Melissa Doyle as she interviews a series of national and international guests to discuss the impact of coronavirus on communities here in Australia and around the globe.

Watch Interviews

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND CORONAVIRUS

We are all fragile when it comes to coronavirus, but we are not equally fragile.

Countries already living in poverty without adequate access to healthcare, economic support, information services and who are in crowded living conditions with poor hygiene facilities will experience the spread of disease in an unprecedented way.

Developing countries are also more likely to feel the pain of the secondary impacts of the virus, such as food insecurity, loss of livelihoods and exasperated social issues such as violence for years to come.

We must act now before it’s too late.
Health
Health

Many countries, particularly those in the midst of conflict or natural disaster, have health systems that are ill-equipped to cope with a pandemic, and with so many people living in crowded conditions, social distancing to stop the spread of the disease is near impossible. There are also over one billion people in the world without appropriate access to clean running water, making the first line of defence against Covid-19; hand hygiene, even harder.

Livelihoods icon

Economic
The implications on livelihoods from this global crisis cannot be underestimated, particularly in countries already struggling with poverty. With many local and global businesses closing down, and with limited, if any, economic support from their governments, many people are forced out of work and cannot afford their rent or to feed their families.

emotional wellbeing icon

Wellbeing
Coronavirus is impacting all of us in different ways, however in developing countries, social already rampant inequality, particularly for women and girls, will be exasperated due to forced coexistence, economic stress. In a recent World Vision survey, it was revealed that 1/3 of children are worried about their parents’ job – more children are taking on adult worries due to this pandemic.

OUR WORK IN AUSTRALIA

We are supporting our First Nations partners, the communities we work with, and young people during the coronavirus crisis, by adapting how we deliver our programs. We will continue to support initiatives that reinforce community wellbeing, education and health during this difficult period. We recognise that not only are they highly vulnerable to the virus, but also to the social change and restrictions put in place to stay safe. We are calling on the Australian government to prioritise the protection of these already vulnerable and often remote communities. To support our ongoing work with First Nations communities, click here.

In order to maintain our early childhood education programming in the Pilbara, our team based in Newman prepared playgroup resource packs for Martu families. Playgroups have been suspended due to COVID-19. Without access to locally-run playgroups and support for parents, First Nations children can fall behind in developmental milestones, so continuity of education is an important aspect of our response.

Child washing hands
Young Mob teenagers in Sydney
Wearing masks
ECCD Pilbara Care Packages

DONOR GENEROSITY IN ACTION

Our global goal

We are aiming to respond in over 70 countries and reach 72 million people

Appeal objectives

Scaling up preventive measures to limit the spread of the disease
Strengthening health systems and workers
Supporting children through education, child protection, food and livelihoods
Collaborating and advocating to ensure children are protected

Where World Vision is responding

Read the latest country updates to see how supporters are helping to protect vulnerable communities around the world.   

The COVID-19 CRISIS in numbers

58,465,957

people reached, including 25,828,544 children

Scaling up preventive measures to limit the spread of disease

  • 31,106,663 people reached through the promotion of preventive behaviours
  • 5,397,472 information, education and communication materials printed and distributed
  • 14,647,283 community members provided preventive materials
  • 4,738,707 handwashing supplies distributed
  • 2,724,318 comprehensive hygiene kits provided
  • 276,212 cleaning kits distributed to vulnerable communities
  • 87,939 community-level public handwashing stations established or maintained
  • 95,328 water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities constructed or rehabilitated
  • 210,925 religious leaders engaged to promote preventive measures and create hope

Supporting children through education, child protection, food and livelihoods

  • 3,304,797 people reached with information, education and communication materials on psychosocial support
  • 1,108,625 education materials provided to enable or support remote learning
  • 1,785,010 people provided with education support or training
  • 1,464,644 children reached with targeted, age-specific health education
  • 55,912 teachers provided with education training and support
  • US$19,039,380 total value of cash and vouchers distributed
  • 1,901,505 people reached with cash and voucher assistance 
  • 6,400,518 people reached with food security assistance
  • 1,439,969 children supported with child protection programming
  • 134,156 frontline actors reached or trained on child protection programming
  • 161,179 individuals supported with livelihoods training
  • 145,331 households provided with livelihoods assets
  • 5,089 savings groups organised

* Amounts for cash and voucher assistance and people reached with food security assistance have been amended to address errors recorded from the previous situation report. 

Strengthening health systems and workers

  • 154,195 community health workers trained and supported
  • 422,533 medical personnel provided with personal protective equipment
  • 8,075,767 masks distributed
  • 4,634,165 glove sets distributed
  • 18,029 medical facilities assisted with COVID-19 preventive or response support
  • 463,791 disinfectant kits distributed to healthcare facilities
  • 435,417 people supported with the securing of safe quarantine and/or isolation spaces
  • 1,200 quarantine and isolation spaces supported, rehabilitated or set up
  • 8,121 people provided with transportation support

Collaborating and advocating to ensure children are protected

  • 1,005 external engagements where World Vision advocated on priorities, including ending violence against children in the context of COVID-19
  • 278 global, regional and national policy changes achieved through advocacy to help improve the international responses to COVID-19 
  • During the United Nations General Assembly’s Special Session on COVID-19, World Vision held a side event with UNICEF’s Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, and World Vision president, Andrew Morley, amongst other speakers, including children who spoke about the adverse effects of the pandemic on their lives and communities to launch our ACT NOW: Experiences and recommendations of girls and boys on the impact of COVID-19 report. 
  • In commemoration of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child anniversary, World Vision held 10 virtual events, in partnership with UNICEF, Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, Arigatou, and other organisations, to launch regional ACT NOW reports and bring attention to the impact of COVID-19 in specific contexts. 
  • World Vision co-hosted the official side event for the Afghanistan Donor Pledging Conference, also releasing two reports: Breaking point: COVID-19 and the child protection crisis in Afghanistan and A brighter future for children: Realising the nexus in Afghanistan. 
  • World Vision’s Syria Response successfully advocated with UNICEF, UNHCR, and the Syrian Inter-Agency Regional Forum to ensure that child protection vulnerabilities are featured separately in the Regional Refugee & Resilience Plan that informs national humanitarian response plans.  
  • World Vision Brazil worked with the government to develop and operationalise a local law to create child protection mechanisms as schools start reopening. 
  • World Vision Mexico prepared observations for 2021 public budget allocations that will have an impact on 3.8 million children and young people affected by the pandemic, especially those who are excluded from education or victims of child labour, violence, or migration. 
  • World Vision South Africa trained faith leaders on psychosocial support, who then assisted 941 children on how to deal with their emotions during COVID-19. 

OUR GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP

Volunteers delivering Tender Boxes and basic baskets

We have 37, 000 staff and 220, 000 volunteers in communities around the world, all mobilising to deal with crises. That’s the size of an entire army uniting to combat Covid-19.

- Graham Strong, Acting CEO World Vision Australia

CONNECT WITH US

You can also donate to World Vision’s Coronavirus Appeal to help fund life-saving preventions and interventions

Donate now
Donations over $2 may be tax deductible depending on your own personal tax position.