EU Releases US$40 Million To Help Zimbabwe Fight Coronavirus

The European Union (EU) has released US$40 million through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)’s Health Development Fund to help Zimbabwe fight the coronavirus.

This was revealed by EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe Timo Olkkonen while responding to questions from The Sunday Mail last week. He said:

We are working with our partners on several fronts in the fight against Covid-19. The EU in Zimbabwe is one of the major donors of the health sector and our support goes through the UNICEF-administered multi-donor Health Development Fund (HDF).

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have released an additional US$40 million to the HDF, on top of previous support of 126 million Euro (about US$138 million). This money will mainly support — through our implementing partner UNICEF — the Government’s effort in the fight against Covid-19.

Olkkonen further revealed that an additional package of about US$35 million was announced to President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently by EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen.

As of 9 May 2020, Zimbabwe had 36 confirmed positive cases for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus.

The disease has infected millions and killed tens of thousands globally.

More: The Sunday Mail