Amidst the destruction of the of COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations chief expressed concern over a lack of sufficient solidarity with the world’s developing countries, that need support in responding to the worst economic and social crisis in generations.
We mourn the lives lost more than 200,000, Secretary-General António Guterres said in a virtual press conference on Thursday. We despair that many more will follow, particularly in places least able to cope.
He ran through the multiple ways the Organization is working to combat the virus on the ground, and said that on Friday, a new UN policy report would be launched to advise how best to protect older persons, along with an analysis of COVID-19 consequences for persons with disabilities.
Our voice has been clear, calling for solidarity, unity and hope, he told reporters.
The Secretary-General also spoke to the press about the needs of people most vulnerable to the economic meltdown.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) reported this week that the global workforce will be hit with the equivalent of the loss of more than 300 million jobs, he said, adding that millions of children risk missing life-saving vaccines and that those officially living in poverty could rise by around 500 million the first increase in three decades.
Underscoring the massive and urgent support needed for developing countries, he echoed his call for a worldwide relief package of at least 10 per cent of the global economy’s output.
He acknowledged steps taken by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) $12.3 billion in emergency financing; the World Bank, with $160 billion of extra financing; and the G20 leading economies, which have agreed to suspend debt service payments for the poorest countries, but added, even this is not enough.
The debt moratorium must be extended to all developing countries that are unable to service their debt, including several middle-income countries followed by targeted debt relief to prevent defaults leading to prolonged financial and economic crises, he spelled out.
Mr. Guerres maintained that a smart recovery from COVID-19 would help steer the world onto a safer, healthier, more sustainable and inclusive path, but that it was critical to address the fragilities.
Inequalities, social protection gaps and gender equality must be front and centre to build resilience to future shocks: And recovery needs to go hand-in-hand with climate action.
The Secretary-General called on Governments to ensure that revitalized spending accelerate the decarbonization of all aspects of our economy and privilege the creation of green jobs.
He also stressed that taxpayers’ money not be used to subsidize fossil fuels or bail out carbon-intensive industries; a price should be placed on carbon; and public funds be invested in a future where financial institutions and investors take climate risks fully into account.
Our template remains the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Agreement on climate change, concluded the UN chief.
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