The UK has pledged £200million to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and charities to help slow the spread of the coronavirus in vulnerable countries and prevent a second wave of infections.
More than 1.6million people are reported to have been infected by the coronavirus globally and deaths have topped 100,000, according to a Reuters tally. Infections have been reported in 210 countries since the first cases were identified in China in December last year.
British aid minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said assisting the poorest nations now would help prevent the virus returning to the UK. Almost 10,000 deaths have been reported in the UK among hospital patients, the fifth highest national number globally.
"While our brilliant doctors and nurses fight coronavirus at home, we’re deploying British expertise and funding around the world to prevent a second deadly wave reaching the UK," Ms Trevelyan said.
"Coronavirus does not respect country borders so our ability to protect the British public will only be effective if we strengthen the healthcare systems of vulnerable developing countries too."
The Government said £130million would go to United Nations' agencies, with £65million for the WHO. Another £50million would go to the Red Cross to help war-torn and hard to reach areas, with £20million going to other organisations and charities.
The cash would help areas with weak health systems such as war-ravaged Yemen, which reported its first case on Friday, and Bangladesh, which is hosting 850,000 Rohingya refugees in crowded camps, it said.
Britain's support for the WHO contrasts with the view of U.S. President Donald Trump who has criticised its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic with suggestions his administration might re-evaluate U.S. funding.
"The United Kingdom’s generous contribution is a strong statement that this is a global threat that demands a global response," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO's Director General said.
"We are all in this together, which means protecting health around the world will help to protect the health of people in the UK."
