UN launches US$2B global humanitarian response plan to tackle COVID-19

Mar 26, 2020 News

A global approach is the only way to fight COVID-19, says the United Nations (UN).

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock

UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock warned that failing to help vulnerable countries fight the coronavirus now could place millions at risk and leave the virus free to circle back around the globe.United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres yesterday launched a US$2 billion coordinated global humanitarian response plan to fight COVID-19 in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries (51 of them across South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia) in a bid to protect millions.Governments are being urged to commit to fully supporting the global humanitarian response plan, while sustaining funding to existing humanitarian appeals.
The response plan will be implemented by UN agencies, with international NGOs and NGO consortia playing a direct role in the response.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres

It will deliver essential laboratory equipment to test for the virus, and medical supplies to treat people; install hand washing stations in camps and settlements; launch public information campaigns on how to protect yourself and others from the virus; and establish air bridges and hubs across Africa, Asia and Latin America to move humanitarian workers and supplies to where they are needed most.
Secretary-General Guterres said “COVID-19 is menacing the whole of humanity – and so the whole of humanity must fight back. Individual country responses are not going to be enough.“We must come to the aid of the ultra-vulnerable – millions upon millions of people who are least able to protect themselves. This is a matter of basic human solidarity. It is also crucial for combating the virus. This is the moment to step up for the vulnerable.”
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock noted “COVID-19 has already upended life in some of the world’s wealthiest

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

countries. It is now reaching places where people live in warzones, cannot easily access clean water and soap, and have no hope of a hospital bed if
they fall critically ill.“To leave the world’s poorest and most vulnerable countries to their fate would be both cruel and unwise. If we leave coronavirus to spread freely in these places, we would be placing millions at high risk, whole regions will be tipped into chaos and the virus will have the opportunity to circle back around the globe.
“Countries battling the pandemic at home are rightly prioritizing people living in their own communities. But the hard truth is they will be failing to protect their own people if they do not act now to help the poorest countries protect themselves.
“Our priority is to help these countries prepare and continue helping the millions who rely on humanitarian assistance from the UN to survive. Properly funded, our global response effort will equip humanitarian organizations with the tools to fight the virus, save lives, and help contain the spread of COVID-19 worldwide.”

UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore

According to WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus “The virus is now spreading in countries with weak health systems, including some which are already facing humanitarian crises. These countries need our support – out of solidarity, but also to protect us all and help suppress this pandemic. At the same time, we must not fight the pandemic at the expense of the other humanitarian health emergencies.”
Meanwhile, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta H. Fore says that “Children are the hidden victims of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lockdowns and school closures are affecting their education, mental health and access to basic health services. The risks of exploitation and abuse are higher than ever, for boys and girls alike. For children on the move or living through conflicts, the consequences will be unlike any we have ever seen. We must not let them down.”
At the virtual launch of the COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan, the UN Secretary-General was joined via video link by Mr. Lowcock, Dr. Tedros and Ms. Fore.
Together they called on UN Member States to commit to stemming the impact of COVID-19 in vulnerable countries and containing the virus globally by giving the strongest possible support to the plan, while also sustaining core support to existing humanitarian appeals that help the more than 100 million people who already rely on humanitarian assistance from the UN just to survive.
COVID-19 has killed more than 16,000 people worldwide and there are nearly 400,000 reported cases. It has a foothold across the globe and is now reaching countries that were already facing humanitarian crisis because of conflict, natural disasters and climate change.