Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what international responses they are initiating with partners in the UN to provide assistance to those states which are the least prepared to address the health and economic crises arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are using UK aid to its full effect to counter the health, humanitarian, and economic risks and impacts of COVID-19. The UK strongly supports the United Nations Global Humanitarian Response Plan and continues to work with international partners, including the United Nations and its agencies, to ensure aid reaches those most in need.

Up to £744 million of UK aid funding has been committed so far to support the global efforts to combat COVID-19. Of that, £145 million is for United Nations appeals, including:

• £75 million for the World Health Organization;
• £20 million for UNICEF and £5 million to Education Cannot Wait to help refugee, migrant and displaced children proving basic suppliers and lessons;
• £20 million for the UN Refugee Agency providing access to handwashing stations and drinking water for displaced people;
• £15 million for the World Food Programme; and
• £10 million to United Nations Population Fund to provide lifesaving sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender-based violence prevention.

The UK is also providing up to £150 million of UK aid funding which will go the International Monetary Fund’s Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust to help developing countries meet their debt repayments so that they can focus their available resources on tackling COVID-19.