UN: $90 Billion Could Protect 700 Million Poor In Pandemic
Source: Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS (AP) The U.N. humanitarian chief said Monday that $90 billion could provide income support, food and a health response to the coronavirus pandemic for 700 million of the worlds most vulnerable people a price tag just 1 percent of the $8 trillion stimulus package the 20 richest countries put in place to safeguard the global economy.
Mark Lowcock told a video briefing most experts agree that the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic hasnt reached the poorest parts of the world, but may peak in the next three to six months.
He said about 700 million people 10 percent of the worlds population are most vulnerable and concentrated in about 30 to 40 countries which already receive humanitarian assistance and will see a big drop in incomes as the virus spreads and governments impose restrictive measures and lock downs.
If you wanted to protect them against that drop in income, then probably for about $60 billion you could do that, Lowcock said. And for something like $30 billion, he said, people facing the threat of starvation can get food, and the health response to COVID-19 can be financed. Lowcock said probably two-thirds of the $90 billion could come from international financial institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund...-More.
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