UN calls for scaling up all efforts to confront pandemic

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution Monday night calling for global action to rapidly scale up development, manufacturing and access to medicine, vaccines and medical equipment to confront the new coronavirus pandemic. It reaffirms the fundamental role of the United Nations system in coordinating the global response to control and contain the spread of COVID-19 and in supporting the 193 U.N. member states, “and in this regard acknowledges the crucial leading role played by the World Health Organization.” U.S. President Donald Trump suspended funding to the World Health Organization earlier this month, accusing the U.N. agency of failing to stop the virus from spreading when it first surfaced in China, saying it “must be held accountable.’’ But the United States did not block adoption of the resolution. speculation and undue stockpiling that may hinder access to safe, effective and affordable essential medicines, vaccines, personal protective equipment and medical equipment.” Co- And it calls for stepped up coordination, incIuding with the private sector, “towards rapid development, manufacturing and distribution of diagnostics, anti-viral medicines, personal protective equipment and vaccines.” The resolution is the second on COVID-19 approved by the General Assembly. The revised Russian resolution being considered now expresses grave concern at “the negative impact of the spread of COVID-19 on public health and the global economy,” and makes a commitment to pursue “coordinated and decisive actions aimed at defeating the pandemic, guided by the spirit of solidarity and international cooperation.” The revised draft drops the reference to unilateral sanctions, but welcomes the April 3 statement on COVID-19 by the Group of 77 and China — the main group of developing countries at the United Nations which now has 134 member states. Saudi Arabia currently chairs the Group of 20 major global economies and its draft welcomes their March 26 summit call for “effective and coordinated action” to fight COVID-19, and their statement “on injecting 5 trillion United States dollars into the global economy, as part of targeted fiscal policy, economic measures and guarantee schemes to counteract the social, economic and financial impacts of the pandemic.” The Saudi draft also stresses “the necessity of urgent short-term actions” to expand manufacturing capacity, swiftly deliver medical supplies, increase funding for research and development of vaccines and medicines, and engage with international organizations and multilateral and regional banks “to deploy robust, coherent, coordinated and rapid financial packages to strengthen global financial safety nets.” General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding but do reflect world opinion.