History will judge G7 leaders’ response to COVID-19 funding challenge

World Vision has welcomed a letter by 230 former national leaders, Nobel laureates and international business leaders calling for the G7 nations to contribute US$66 billion towards delivering vaccines.

Andrew Morley, president of the global aid agency, said the letter — signed by notaries including former UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon and 15 former African leaders — could save millions of lives and bring the pandemic to an end.

“World leaders are being called upon today to show moral leadership at a time of historic crisis – and history will forever judge how they respond.

“Every single day, our staff on the ground see the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the world’s poorest children and their families.

“This pandemic has robbed countless girls and boys of their God-given potential. Yet vaccines, currently out of reach for so many, would be a lifeline.”

Since the start of the pandemic, World Vision has reached more than 62.4 million people through our 70-country COVID-19 Response. These include more than 27.4 million children whose education, safety, mental health, access to nutritious food and their family income have been affected by coronavirus.

“At World Vision, with our partners and donors, we are doing everything we can to mitigate the impact of the pandemic,” said Mr Morley. “But communities cannot start re-building their lives until global access to vaccines, tests, and treatments for everyone who needs them is guaranteed.”

The letter to G7 leaders called for them to pay two-thirds of what was needed to supply vaccines to low-income countries. Approximately 2 per cent of people living in sub-Saharan Africa have been vaccinated against COVID-19 (1), while the UK has immunised 70 per cent of its population with at least one dose (2).

World Vision is particularly concerned about people living in fragile contexts, and refugees and migrants who are often the most vulnerable. The agency is also calling for the funds to increase the demand for vaccines, including addressing vaccine hesitancy, so those vaccines that are provided are used.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• For further information or to organise an interview, please contact Jan Butter on +44 (0)7889400889 or jan_butter@wvi.org
• World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organisation dedicated to working with children, families and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.  For more information, please visit www.wvi.org or follow us on Twitter @WorldVision