COVID-19 is having a dramatic impact on populations across the world, and we have seen a largely united response from the global community with commitments to fund action on the pandemic. We are pleased that the UK has made significant contributions, including this weekend’s announcement of a further £200 million aid.
This support is essential, as the capacity for the poorest in society to protect themselves and manage physical and social isolation is much more limited and therefore likely to increase already marked health inequalities.
Whilst there has been some political criticism of WHO, geo-politics must not undermine collective global action in the face of this pandemic.
Never has there been a greater need for all countries of the world to cooperate and pull together in response to this crisis, and never has the role of UN agencies, which serve all their Member States, been more important in leading this global collective action.
Some useful links on the UK’s aid contribution to the COVID response are available below, providing information on the commitments made and the agencies which will benefit.
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-leads-global-fight-to-prevent-second-wave-of-coronavirus
- https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19--13-april-2020
- https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-aid/uk-pledges-200-million-pounds-in-aid-to-help-stop-second-coronavirus-wave-idUSKCN21T0WU
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52258449
- https://twitter.com/DFID_UK
