Remarks by Mark Lowcock, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, on the release of the updated COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan.
The United Nations (UN) and partners today (7 May) launched a (USD) 6.7 billion appeal to protect millions of lives and halt the spread of COVID-19 in more than 60 of the world’s most fragile countries.
The updated Global Humanitarian Response Plan, launched on Thursday, provides help and protection that prioritize the most vulnerable in society, such as older people, people with disabilities, and women and girls.
Speaking ahead of the launch event, UN Humanitarian Coordinator Mark Lowcock warned of a significant rise in conflict, hunger and poverty, as well as looming famine, unless action is taken now.
Briefing via video teleconference, Lowcock said, “in many places the impact of national measures to contain the spread of the virus and the global recession, may be larger than the direct impact of the disease” adding that “if we do not act swiftly, we face a reversal of the development gains we’ve made over several decades.”
The Emergency Relief Coordinator said “wealthy countries will need to make a significant one-time increase in their foreign aid commitments. And international financial institutions will need to change lending agreements with vulnerable countries.”
The alternative, he said, will mean “dealing with the spillover effects for many years to come” and added that “that will be even more painful, and much more expensive for everyone.”
