Page 9 - Nile Explorer Issue 007

Further stating that: “Under-resourced COVID-19. The organization has
hospitals and fragile health systems are emphasized the need for three priority
likely to be overwhelmed. This may be actions: resources to help stop the
further exacerbated by a spike in cases, spread of the virus, support to respond
as up to 75 per cent of people in least during the outbreak itself, and resources
developed countries lack access to soap to prevent the economic collapse of
and water. developing countries.
Additional social conditions, such as As an immediate response, UNDP is
poor urban planning and overpopula- building on the support it has been
tion in some cities, weak waste disposal providing to China and other Asian
services, and even traffic congestion countries to help strengthen their health

impeding access to healthcare facilities, systems. This includes helping them

(
) may all add to the caseload. procure much-needed medical supplies,
leverage digital technologies and ensur-
COVID-19: Looming “This pandemic is a health crisis. But not ing health workers are paid.
just a health crisis. For vast swathes of
crisis in developing the globe, the pandemic will leave deep, At the same time, UNDP will support
countries threatens to deep scars,” noted Achim Steiner, countries to slow the spread of the virus
devastate economies and Administrator of the United Nations and to provide social protection for
vulnerable populations, promoting a
Development Programme (UNDP).
ramp up inequality. “Without support from the internation- whole-of-government and
A s the world struggles to control al community, we risk a massive rever- whole-of-society response to comple-
ment efforts in the health sector.
sal of gains made over the last two
the social and economic disrup-
decades, and an entire generation lost, if
tions abought by the COVID 19 not in lives then in rights, opportunities In the longer term, UNDP will work
with countries to assess the social and
pandemic, there are concerns that third and dignity.” economic impacts of COVID-19 and
world countries, particularly in Africa, take urgent recovery measures to mini-
will be heavily hit by consequences of Working in close coordination with the mize long-term impact, particularly for
the outbreak far beyond their control, World Health Organization (WHO), vulnerable and marginalized groups,
leading to unprecedented human suffer- UNDP is helping countries to prepare and to help societies to recover better.
ing that would last for a longtime, even for, respond to and recover from the Tackling COVID-19 and its impacts will
after the outbreak is contained. In this COVID-19 pandemic, focusing particu- require partners who can work across
contest, the UNDP seeking unprece- larly on the most vulnerable. systems and sectors and in contexts that
dented COVID-19 support for vulnera- UNDP is already working to support are both complex and uncertain. With
ble countries. health systems in countries including years of experience on the frontlines,

According to the UNDP, the growing Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, this is what UNDP is designed to do.
COVID-19 crisis threatens to dispro- Djibouti, El Salvador, Eritrea, Iran, UNDP is fully operational in 170 coun-
portionately hit developing countries, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Nigeria, Para- tries and territories and focused on its
not only as a health crisis in the short guay, Panama, Serbia, Ukraine and COVID-19 response, mobilizing all its
term but as a devastating social and Vietnam. assets to respond to this unprecedented
economic crisis over the months and A UNDP-led COVID-19 Rapid challenge.
years to come. Response Facility has already been Meanwhile, United Nations Secre-
In a statement posted on the agency’s launched, funded by existing resources tary-General António Guterres , March
website and circulated to media houses and capitalized with an initial US$20 31, launched a $2 billion global humani-
worldwide, he is quoted saying that: million. This facility is disbursing tarian response plan to fight COVID-19
“Income losses are expected to exceed through a fast-track mechanism in some of the world’s most vulnerable
$220 billion in developing countries. enabling UNDP teams to offer immedi- countries. This response plan is intend-
With an estimated 55 per cent of the ate assistance to countries for their ed to protect millions of people and stop
global population having no access to national response. UNDP anticipates a the virus from circling back around the
social protection, these losses will rever- minimum $500 million need to support globe. •
berate across societies, impacting 100 countries.
education, human rights and, in the UNDP has made a call to action to the
most severe cases, basic food security international community to think
and nutrition”. beyond the immediate impact of
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