UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (Photo: VNA)

Guterres said at a virtual launch event: “Covid-19 is menacing the whole of humanity and so the whole of humanity must fight back. Individual country responses are not going to be enough. We must come to the aid of the ultra-vulnerable -- millions upon millions of people who are least able to protect themselves. This is a matter of basic human solidarity."

According to Mark Lowcock, UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, the response plan will be implemented by UN agencies, with international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and NGO consortia playing a direct role in the response. The plan will be coordinated by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.