"WHO Needs 13 Trillion Won to Fight Delta Variant"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that $11.5 billion (approximately 13.2 trillion KRW) in emergency funds are needed for vaccine and medical oxygen, equipment support, and more due to the resurgence of COVID-19 caused by the Delta variant.

On the 4th (local time), foreign media reported this citing a draft report from the WHO-affiliated project 'ACT-A' (Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator). According to the report, most of the funds are necessary to strengthen the response capacity of low-income countries against COVID-19.

$7.7 billion (approximately 8.8 trillion KRW) has been allocated for increasing testing capacity in low-income countries, protective measures for medical personnel, securing medical oxygen, and mask support, while $3.8 billion (approximately 4.4 trillion KRW) has been assigned for the purchase option of 760 million vaccine doses to be supplied to low-income countries by next year.

The WHO emphasized that $3.8 billion in vaccine funds is urgently needed immediately, as payment must be made within the next few months to exercise the COVID-19 vaccine purchase options.

The amount included in this report is about $5 billion (approximately 5.7 trillion KRW) less than the $16.8 billion (approximately 19.2 trillion KRW) WHO announced last month on the 6th as the cost needed to support low-income countries.

ACT-A stated, "As of the 6th of last month, $17.7 billion (approximately 20.3 trillion KRW) has been secured from countries such as the United States, Germany, and Japan to support the global COVID-19 response, but this is only about half of the target amount."

An ACT-A official explained, "We have been active since the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, but funds are insufficient. This is because various governments have different positions and demands regarding COVID-19 prevention equipment and vaccines."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.