Bloomberg commits $10 million to International Rescue Committee's Covid 19 response

[Tanuki]

https://www.rescue.org/press-release/mike-bloomberg-commits-10-million-international-rescue-committee-their-covid-19

"New York, NY, April 23, 2020 — Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced a $10 million contribution to support the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) efforts to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on vulnerable populations across the globe, and for additional work that will be needed to protect these peoples. The support comes at a time when the world is experiencing the greatest number of people fleeing violence and persecution since World War II. With many of these displaced millions already suffering from ill health and living in poverty, they are at extreme risk of contracting the coronavirus. COVID-19 is in the early stages of spreading to less developed and fragile countries, which means there is still time to mount a coordinated response that can ease suffering today and guard against dangerous secondary impacts tomorrow. 

The flexible funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies will allow the IRC to quickly pivot its coronavirus  response to where it is needed most, ensuring a quick and effective delivery of aid in the more than 40 countries and 20 U.S. cities where the IRC is on the frontlines of trying to diminish and respond to the COVID-19 threat. The funding will also allow the IRC to address other critical work and builds on the long-term partnership between the two organizations, which has enabled life-changing impact for thousands of people displaced by conflict and persecution while catalyzing solutions that benefit the humanitarian response sector.

“The International Rescue Committee rushes to the aid of people uprooted from their homes by conflict and crisis, and in the battle against this coronavirus, its work has taken on new urgency,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and three-term mayor of New York City. “Bloomberg Philanthropies has been glad to support the IRC for over two decades. Now our partnership will accelerate its front-line response to the pandemic in over 40 countries and continue to help build a healthier and safer world for all of us.”

The vast majority of refugees and displaced populations already have pre-existing vulnerabilities, with many living in confined spaces and places with weakened health systems that are severely underprepared to respond to a pandemic. A recent IRC report revealed a severe shortage of critical equipment like ventilators and ICU beds amongst fragile and conflict-affected countries. For example, just half of South Sudan’s health facilities are functioning, and there are only four ventilators for the whole country. Further, this pandemic will have a devastating impact on the economic and security situations in many places that are already in need of humanitarian assistance. The IRC teams are working to spread awareness, improve water and sanitation services, and strengthen the capacity of health care systems to detect, respond to, and prevent further transmission of the virus."...(more)