UN Secretary says coronavirus 'is threatening the whole of humanity'

The United Nations gave the world a stark warning on Wednesday, saying that the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic is a threat to the entire human race, this while launching its humanitarian response plan. According to CTV News, the plan involves a US $2 billion appeal for the poorest people of the world.

The pandemic has now spread to dozens of countries across all continents but Antarctica, leaving thousands and almost 500,000 infected.

"COVID-19 is threatening the whole of humanity—and the whole of humanity must fight back. Global action and solidarity are crucial. Individual country responses are not going to be enough," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres when announcing the initiative.

The Secretary General said that unless the world cooperates their efforts together to fight the virus, it's highly probable that millions more will die.

"This COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan aims to enable us to fight the virus in the world’s poorest countries, and address the needs of the most vulnerable people, especially women and children, older people, and those with disabilities or chronic illness," said Guterres.

"We cannot afford to lose the gains we have made through investments in humanitarian action and in the Sustainable Development Goals," Guterres added.

The amount of money earmarked for this new initiative pales in comparison to the $2 trillion that the US Congress will likely approve to rescue the devastated American economy, which has come to a near standstill.

The UN initiative is set to begin in April and will go until December, which is the minimal amount of time the UN predicts the pandemic will last.

The exact amount of money will be $2.012 billion and it is expected to come from appeals that various UN agencies have already brought forth through the World Food Program and the World Health Organization.