Facing Omicron, Washington announces $ 580 million in additional international aid


The United States will give more than half a billion dollars in additional aid to international organizations to fight Covid-19 in the face of the outbreak of the Omicron variant, the US foreign minister announced on Tuesday, December 21. Antony Blinken in a statement sent to AFP.

The rapid spread of the Omicron variant reinforces the need to continue to accelerate our efforts to end this pandemic as none of us are protected until we are all protected“, did he declare. “The world is at a key point in our global response to this virus.

The Secretary of State specified that he must organize an exchange with his counterparts from other countries on Tuesday for “to coordinate»The international response to the new variant which has already become dominant among new infections in the United States. “I call on my counterparts to keep and strengthen their commitments in the fight against the pandemic. We must act together, we must act quickly.

These $ 580 million intended for seven multilateral agencies bring US aid to $ 19.6 billion, according to the State Department. Antony Blinken said that it was, in addition to the 330 million doses of vaccines shared by Washington with the rest of the world, a “important contribution so that these vaccines turn into vaccinations, to strengthen public health resources, support communities in need and provide urgent aid likely to save lives“.

The additional money will go in particular to the World Health Organization (280 million dollars), returned to the heart of the strategy of the United States under the presidency of Joe Biden after the rupture decreed by his predecessor Donald Trump. Unicef ​​will receive 170 million to help it in its efforts to vaccinate vulnerable populations. “The United States is trying to galvanize collective global action through our example and leadership, and it is crucial that other governments keep their commitmentsInsisted Antony Blinken, whose announcement comes a few hours before a highly anticipated speech by Joe Biden on his response to the Omicron variant.



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