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Written question asked by Lord Hain (Labour) on Monday, 18 May 2020, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 2 June 2020. It was answered by Baroness Sugg (Conservative) on Monday, 1 June 2020 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Africa: Coronavirus

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 15 May (HL4054), what provision they have made for additional aid to combat COVID-19 in Africa.

Answer

We are tackling COVID-19’s direct and wide-ranging secondary impacts, and to date have committed up to £764 million of UK aid to support the global response to COVID-19. This includes UK support for the implementation of the African Union’s COVID-19 Continental Strategy. UK aid funding of £20 million will help strengthen healthcare systems and save lives in the African Union’s 55 member states by providing training for healthcare workers, supporting the deployment of African experts, and helping to tackle misinformation around COVID-19.

The UK has provided public health experts to support Africa Centres for Disease Control through the Department of Health and Social Care International Health Regulations Strengthening Project and the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team. DFID is rapidly adapting its bilateral programmes across Africa to help counter the health, humanitarian, and economic impacts of COVID-19, in support of the poorest people.

We are seeking to ensure that the significant amounts of finance made available by International Financial Institutions targets the most vulnerable, especially women and girls, flexes to meet the short-term needs of governments, and is coordinated with the UN and other parts of the international response.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL4570
Session
2019-21
Related items
Africa: Coronavirus
Friday, 15 May 2020
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Development aid Africa Coronavirus
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk