ROME, APRIL 16 – The Italian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Emanuela Del Re participated in a videoconference with major donor countries convened by the UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Aid Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, and the Director of the World Health Organization (WHO), Mike Ryan.
The meeting provided an update on the activities carried out by the United Nations together with the International Red Cross, financial institutions, and NGOs to address the humanitarian emergency created by Covid 19 pandemic, particularly in those countries with fragile health facilities and often already affected by previous humanitarian crises.
Del Re confirmed Italy’s commitment to contribute to the global response to COVID 19 while continuing to dedicate efforts to the humanitarian needs before this crisis. Del Re, therefore, drew attention to the restrictive measures on the movements of humanitarian workers and the negative consequences that these measures have on the ability to bring assistance to people in vulnerable conditions. At the same time, she added, “we need to support local humanitarian workers and take this moment to give a boost to the UN’s agenda on the location of humanitarian aid”.
“The most vulnerable people are also those most exposed to the COVID-19 emergency, including displaced persons and their host communities,” she concluded. “In many situations, women play a crucial role in strengthening the resilience of the population, and it is necessary to continue to support them.” (@OnuItalia)
