Global vaccine distribution horrifying, unacceptable: UNGA president

The current state of global vaccine distribution is "unacceptable" and "horrifying", the UN General Assembly president said today, pointing at the nationalistic attitude of developed countries and vaccine manufacturing nations.

"Only 0.3 percent of all vaccines is going to low-income countries. This is terrifying, horrifying. This is unacceptable. This is beyond all human and moral belief," Volkan Bozkır said while delivering his speech at the Bangabandhu Lecture Series organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Foreign Service Academy.

Bozkir arrived in Bangladesh on a two-day visit today.

He called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and delivered the speech on Bangladesh and UN. He is scheduled to visit Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar today.

Speaking at the Bangabandhu Lecture Series, Bozkir said as vaccines were seen as the solution to the Covid-19 pandemic, he has begun campaigning for equal distribution of doses and making them global public goods.

He said companies and countries from across the globe came together providing billions of dollars for the multilateral mechanism [COVAX] to procure and distribute vaccines, but the situation is still horrifying.

The vaccine campaign must prioritise the most marginalised and vulnerable groups, from health workers, those in elderly care facilities, to refugees and migrants, Bozkir added.

He lauded Bangladesh for promoting solidarity in the Covid recovery process by engaging in multilateral mechanisms and helping its neighbours by providing assistance, and said the country deserves a response from COVAX.

"None is safe until all are safe. If one country thinks it has solved problems by vaccinating, it will be wrong."

He congratulated the country on its active role in the UN and for initiating policies shared by the UN, including the culture of peace, gender equality, peace and security.

He also said Bangladesh is making immense contribution to global peace by becoming the top contributing country to UN Peacekeeping missions. Nearly 7,000 Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers are serving in nine missions.

The UNGA president also lauded Bangladesh for sheltering Rohingya refugees in their time of crisis, becoming the example for the world to follow in terms of managing refugees.

"I am deeply concerned over the military actions in Myanmar. The International Court of Justice issued an order to prevent genocide in Myanmar. This should not be forgotten with the new crisis emerging," he said.

Security of Rohingya refugees and other minorities must be ensured, including their citizenship and conducive conditions for return to Myanmar, he said.

He commended Bangladesh meeting the eligibility criteria for graduating from the least developed country status.

Touching on the crisis of climate change, he said the world should come forward to help Bangladesh as a one percent rise in global temperature can cause displacement of 14 million Bangladeshis by the end of the century.

He also lauded Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's foreign policy "Friendship to all and malice to none", saying, "You should cherish it for your country, region and the world."

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and UN Resident Coordinator Mia Seppo also spoke at the event.