Consequences of COVID-19 around the world

Question for written answer  E-000600/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Olivier Chastel (Renew)

One year on from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a staggering number of people in the world are having to cope with the socioeconomic and humanitarian consequences of this scourge.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 229 million people will require humanitarian aid and protection in 2021, which is a 40 % rise on 2020 figures.

The Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), António Vitorino, reports that the organisation will need USD 3 billion in 2021 in order to be able to respond adequately to all the distress caused.

Through its plans on international migration the IOM aims to respond to urgent humanitarian protection and assistance needs as well as the long-term effects of crises and displacement. These plans include activities to ensure a coordinated, comprehensive and equitable response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 29 January 2021, the UN Agency began the roll-out of 23 national and regional crisis response plans on its global crisis response platform. It plans to publish more than 20 additional plans in the coming weeks.

What will be the Commission’s response, on the EU’s behalf, to the IOM’s call for the international community to step up its efforts?