Pandemic is a wake-up call for oversleeping world: UN
Gulf Today|September 12, 2021
Guterres says world is moving in wrong direction and exhorts nations to take urgent action to fight virus and climate change; UAE reports 725 new cases and 2 deaths; Pak to give Pfizer to citizens aged 15−18 from tomorrow.
Pandemic is a wake-up call for oversleeping world: UN

UNITED NATIONS

The United Nations chief warned on Friday that the world is “moving in the wrong direction” and exhorted nations to take urgent action to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

“COVID-19 is a wake-up call, and we are oversleeping,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at a press conference.

Speaking ahead the UN General Assembly that kicks off in New York on Sept.21, Guterres lamented that vaccine-manufacturing nations have been unable to ramp up production toward the goal of vaccinating some 70 per cent of the world population by the first half of 2022.

“The pandemic has demonstrated our collective failure to come together and make joint decisions for the common good, even in the face of an immediate, life-threatening global emergency,” Guterres said.

Guterres dismissed calls to delay a major UN climate summit, known as COP26, due to take place in Scotland in November. Climate activists have called for postponing the event due to vaccine inequality, the raging Covid pandemic and logistical difficulties in organising the event.

“To delay the COP is not a good thing,” Guterres said. “Delays have been so many and the issue is so urgent.”

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