Guterres: The global shortage of Corona vaccines threatens the health of peoples

Washington - SANA

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, expressed his regret at the failure to combat the Corona pandemic at the level of multilateral action, warning at the same time that the global shortage of vaccines threatens the health and well-being of the people of most countries.

Agence France-Presse quoted Guterres as saying during a speech at the United Nations at a forum on financing for development that the fight against the Corona pandemic, whether it is related to vaccination or economic aid, has proven so far that it has failed at the level of multilateral action, pointing out that many countries have not yet started immunization. Its health workers and the most vulnerable citizens.

Guterres revealed that about 75 percent of the anti-corona virus vaccines were concentrated in only ten countries around the world, calling for the need for "fair access" to vaccines for all peoples of the world.

Guterres explained that “the Corona pandemic has caused more than 3 million deaths since December 2019, in the worst recession in 90 years, and returned about 120 million people to extreme poverty while the world lost the equivalent of 255 million full-time jobs,” indicating the need to support a fair global response and recovery. Economic in facing the pandemic as a test of plurality

Guterres explained that the same lack of solidarity applies to economic aid, adding that "some countries have adopted billions of dollars in relief programs, while many developing countries face an insurmountable debt burden, which makes the sustainable development goals completely unattainable if the situation is not corrected."

Guterres added that G20 support to extend the initiative to suspend debt service until the end of this year is welcome, but I am calling for another extension until 2022.