LONDON Sep 02 (APP): New Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of the United Kingdom (UK) will lead global action to ensure the world’s poorest were protected from ravages of coronavirus and famine.
A UK Government statement issued here on Wednesday said that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab urged countries to step up alongside the UK to fight back against coronavirus and growing risk of famine in developing countries.
In this regard, the UK also announces a new £119 million aid package to combat threat of coronavirus and famine as it takes on the G7 and COP26 Presidencies.
The statement further said that Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab appointed former Department for International Development Acting Permanent Secretary, Nick Dyer, as UK’s first Special Envoy for Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Affairs.
The UK would lead a global call to action to protect the world’s poorest people from coronavirus and the increasing threat of famine, the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced, the statement added.
It said that the coronavirus pandemic, conflict, locust swarms and climate change had left 250 million people worldwide facing extreme hunger this year, with parts of Yemen, South Sudan, Nigeria and Burkina Faso on the brink of famine.
“Without international attention, many more will die from hunger and disease, and the pandemic will continue to spread in developing countries and to the wider world”,it observed.
The UK Government statement further said that as the new Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) was inaugurated today, the foreign secretary pledged to use the UK’s diplomatic levers and aid expertise to build a stronger international consensus to fight back against the devastating impacts of coronavirus, conflict and climate change.
“The UK will commit a new £119 million aid package to tackle the combined threat of coronavirus and famines, which is expected to help alleviate extreme hunger for over 6 million people in Yemen, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Somalia, Central African Republic, the Sahel,South Sudan and Sudan”,it said.
Alongside the aid package, Dominic Raab appointed Nick Dyer as the UK’s first Special Envoy for Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Affairs to work in partnership with other donors, UN agencies, NGOs and foundations to help prevent catastrophic famine.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said “Coronavirus and famine threaten millions in some of the world’s poorest countries, and give rise to direct problems that affect the UK, including
terrorism and migration flows.”
Global Britain, as a force for good in the world, is leading by example and bringing the international community together to tackle these deadly threats, because it is the right thing to do and it protects British interests.
“We can only tackle these global challenges by combining our diplomatic strength with our world-leading aid expertise.”
As the UK takes on the presidencies of the G7 and COP26, the Foreign Secretary will urge other countries to step up and help the developing world, as it faces a series of devastating challenges.
The UK is already leading the way in the international search to find a coronavirus vaccine and has committed to equitable access for all to a successful vaccine, treatments and tests. It is the largest donor to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which is helping to make sure the poorest countries can access any COVID-19 vaccine.
In addition, the UK will continue to use its seat on the UN Security Council to call for life-saving humanitarian access for everyone who needs it and hold countries to account on their international legal obligations to allow aid workers to operate impartially in conflict zones.
“The UK has committed to spending 0.7% of our national income on aid, and the formation of the FCDO today will make sure our diplomatic influence and development expertise are combined to the best effect on the global stage”,the statement said.
It added that the ongoing Integrated Review would inform the strategic priorities of the new department, to make sure UK aid and diplomatic efforts are a force for good and support the national interest.