The United Nations and partners yesterday launched an
updated Global Humanitarian Response Plan (GHRP) in New York, seeking US$6,7
billion with Zimbabwe’s immediate share being US$84,9 million to respond to
both the immediate public health crisis and the secondary impacts of the
Covid-19 pandemic on vulnerable people.
The total of US$6,7 billion is required to protect millions
of lives and stem the spread of coronavirus in a large swathe of fragile
countries.
Launching the updated GHRP, UN humanitarian chief Mr Mark
Lowcock called for swift and determined action to avoid the most destabilising
effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The revised GHRP includes nine additional vulnerable
countries: Benin, Djibouti, Liberia, Mozambique, Pakistan, the Philippines,
Sierra Leone, Togo and Zimbabwe.
Included in the plan are programmes to respond to the
growth in food insecurity.
Noting that the request was in addition to the US$715
million appeal for the 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) launched on April 2, 2020, the UN Resident Coordinator in
Zimbabwe Ms Maria Ribeiro said: “This additional appeal is part of the GHRP
which will contribute to Zimbabwe’s national response on Covid-19, particularly
addressing the most vulnerable, including children, the elderly, women, people
with disabilities, people living with HIV, refugees, migrants, and those
affected by drought and food insecurity”.
The Covid-19 addendum to the HRP seeks to mobilise
emergency funding for UN agencies and NGOs to provide support to the public
health emergency response to contain the spread of the Covid-19, through health
programming, risk communication and community engagement, infection control and
prevention, and provision of water supply and increased hygiene and sanitation
intervention.
Expressing her appreciation for the strong partnership with
Government, donors, development and humanitarian partners, Ms Ribeiro called on
all humanitarian and development partners to redouble efforts to ensure timely
and adequate response in order to mitigate the triple crisis of socio-economic
challenge, drought and Covid-19 in Zimbabwe. Herald
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