Unless the coronavirus is beaten everywhere, no one is safe: UN spokesperson

Unless the coronavirus pandemic is defeated everywhere, no one is really safe, United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said after the UN launched a $2 billion appeal to help vulnerable and conflict-torn countries in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and South America.

“Two billion dollars is in fact a large number for anyone, but when you look at the stimulus packages being launched by a number of countries that are in the trillions of dollars, we are talking, relatively not speaking about that much money, and what is clear and what needs to be understood by all, is unless the virus, the pandemic, is beaten everywhere, none of us is safe,” Dujarric said in an interview with Al Arabiya’s New York Bureau Chief Talal al-Haj during the monthly “Diplomatic Avenue” program.

“It is critically important. What we are seeing now is a great risk of the virus spreading even farther to hit the most vulnerable countries, the most vulnerable populations, those who – unlike us – may not even be able to wash their hands, may not have access to any sanitizing equipment, so we need to make sure these populations get help as quickly as possible,” Dujarric added.

Earlier last week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the amount a “drop in the ocean,” noting that the US Senate is seeking $2 trillion – “1,000 times more” – for the US economy.

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