UN appeals for fund to protect refugees amid Coronavirus outbreak

The United Nations have made an urgent appeal for tens of millions of dollars to help protect vulnerable refugees against the spread of the deadly Novel Corona virus.

The UN refugee agency yesterday said it was seeking an initial 33 million US dollars to boost the preparedness, prevention and response activities to address the immediate public health needs of refugees prompted by COVID-19. So far, there have not been any



reports of the virus, which has killed more than 3,800 people worldwide, spreading among communities of refugees and asylum seekers.

But, UNHCR Chief Filippo Grandi stressed the need to protect some of the world's most vulnerable against the disease, which shows mild symptoms in most cases but which often provokes severe illness and death in the weakest individuals.