Mon 04 May 2020:
The G20, hosted by Saudi Arabia, has called for $8 billion and a coordinated response between global health organizations to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
In a Global Response Pledging Marathon that began at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, each of the G20 made a funding pledge for the cause.
The European Commission is pledging 1 billion euros ($1.09 billion) for the coronavirus global response, according to President of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen. European Council President Charles Michel and French President Emmanuel Macron also called for a coordinated effort to tackle coronavirus.
Japanese President Shinzo Abe said that Japan was pledging various amounts to vaccine development and UN funds. He also reiterated his commitment to hosting the Olympics in Tokyo in 2021.
Norway will give $1 billion to support the distribution worldwide of any vaccine developed against COVID-19 as well as for vaccines against other diseases, said Prime Minister Erna Solberg.
Spain will contribute 125 million euros to the coronavirus response fund, according to its Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s discussed the importance of finding and distributing a vaccine. “It’s humanity against the virus. We’re in this together, and together we will prevail,” said Johnson.
Various other leaders including Angela Merkel and Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke. However, the US was absent.
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
