NEW YORK: Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN, recently participated in a second virtual meeting of the Arab Group to discuss joint efforts in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and its impact on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The meeting was also attended by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, World Bank Group Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa Ferid Belhaj, and UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock.
Amina hailed the outcomes of the extraordinary virtual G20 leaders’ summit, chaired by King Salman, to coordinate international efforts in facing the health and economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She also expressed her appreciation for the two-week cease-fire declared by the Kingdom on behalf of the Arab coalition to restore the legitimate Yemeni government. She stressed that this declaration is of “great value that cannot be underestimated.”
Al-Mouallimi reviewed the efforts of Saudi Arabia in fighting the pandemic and its cooperation with the international community and the UN to reduce its repercussions. He urged Arab states to support the decision that the Kingdom will put forward as part of the united response to the global crisis.
Al-Mouallimi stressed the importance of this decision, which will see the points agreed upon at the summit transformed into recommendations, procedures and concrete plans to address the economic, humanitarian and financial impacts of COVID-19, especially in developing countries.
Belhaj praised the Kingdom’s efforts during its presidency of the G20, emphasizing the importance of a united front.
Lowcock briefed the Arab Group at the end of the meeting on the humanitarian repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also briefed the meeting on the efforts of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in fighting the pandemic and providing humanitarian aid to countries in need.
