UN agencies issue urgent call for funding for global crisis management system to fight COVID-19

Heads of major United Nations agencies have issued a COVID-19 risk alert for the world’s most vulnerable countries. International donors have pledged about a quarter of US $ 2 billion
UN requested u Global COVID-19 Humanitarian Response Plan in
March.

The following is the text of the open letter:

Honorable donor community,

Humanity has been collectively facing its most terrifying challenge since World War II. COVID-19 does not know
it has no borders, saves no country or continent and strikes indiscriminately. By all accounts, we are at least 12 months away from the vaccine.

In this race against the invisible enemy, all countries have to fight,
but not everyone starts from the same starting line. In countries where the world’s most vulnerable need humanitarian assistance and supplies to overcome the pandemic, canceled flights and disrupted supply routes are being disproportionately affected.
heavy. It is in everyone’s interest to stop the virus from spreading, destroy lives and the economy and continue circulating around the world.

The UN Secretary-General was launched on 25 March The COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan, which seeks $ 2 billion to push for a global response.
You have been quick and generous in your funding and have expanded to those already affected by war, poverty and the worst effects of climate change – especially at a time when your population is
suffer from the impact of the virus.

About $ 550 million has been generously raised for the implementation of the Plan so far, with significant additional funds mobilized and pledged.

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has also released $ 95 million to launch the COVID-19 response, help curb the spread of the virus, maintain supply chains, and provide assistance and protection
the most vulnerable, including women and girls, refugees and internally displaced persons. But more needs to be done.

In order to achieve more deliveries, the UN World Food Program (WFP) is establishing
a vital backbone of logistics that will help save lives and stop the spread of the virus. WFP now urgently needs additional funding to set up the necessary transport hubs, charter vessels and supply aircraft
for cargo, healthcare professionals and other necessary personnel.

All elements of the Global Humanitarian Response Plan are key and need ongoing funding, but without these common logistics services, a global response
he could stop. Now is not the time to slow down. No one is safe until everyone is safe.

We, humanitarian organizations from all over the world, therefore urge you to support this as a matter of urgency
a global emergency supply system with an initial $ 350 million to enable rapid expansion of general logistics services.

These services, provided by WFP on behalf of the entire global humanitarian community, will exist
provide a fast and efficient response to COVID-19 for the most vulnerable people. Any delay in our action could undermine global efforts to put the pandemic under control.

Reproduction of COVID-19 services
includes:

Whatever it takes, we as humanitarians are determined to meet the urgent needs of the people. Increasing the shared services we all depend on is key to enabling them to meet these needs.

Every man
faces the same death threat in every nation of the world. Every step that speeds up delivery saves lives. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a unique challenge to humanity, and only a unique one
a global response may halt its progressive march.

Now is the time to work together to prevent unnecessary suffering and fulfill the promise of a better future for all.

We hope to get back to you soon.

Mr. Mark Lowcock, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

Mr. Filippo Grandi.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR)

Mrs. Henrietta H. Fore, Executive Director, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Mr. David Beasley.
Executive Director, World Food Program (WFP)

Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO)

Mr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Mr. António Vitorino.
Director-General, United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Mrs. Michelle Bachelet.
High Commissioner, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Mr. Gareth Price-Jones, Executive Secretary, Humanitarian Response Board (SCHR)

Mr. Ignacio Packer, Executive Director, International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)

Mr. Sam Worthington, President and CEO, InterAction

Mrs. Cecilia Jimenez-Damary.
Special Rapporteur on Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

Mr. Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General, International
Union of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)