IGAD Leaders Decide to Adopt COVID-19 Regional Response Strategy

March 31/2020( ENA)Heads of State and Government of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) decided to adopt a regional response strategy to halt the spread of COVID-19.

The leaders convened a Virtual Summit on Monday to discuss coordination and regional response to curb the spread of coronavirus in the sub-region.

IGAD Executive Secretary, Workneh Gebeyehu twitted that the Heads of State and Government has made a resolution to establish an emergency fund while calling on the international community for a globally coordinated approach.

The leaders briefed the summit on the measures their respective countries have taken to avert the spread of COVID-19.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on his Twitter page that the leaders noted the importance of collective leadership as a means of withstanding the challenges COVID19 is posing globally.

“Seeking support together, providing needed materials that each of us have an advantage over, and exchanging experiences closely, is vital to our survival,” he stated.

Concerned about the continuous supply of food and essential commodities in the region, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni underlined for free movement of cargo across the region to be allowed.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo said “The coronavirus epidemic must be the final wake up call for us all to work even more closely together for regional social, economic and political cooperation to ensure the security, development and common prosperity of our brotherly peoples.”

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, President Uhuru Kenyatta, President Ismail Omar Guelleh, President Mohamed Abdullahi, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, First Vice President of South Sudan, Riek Machar and took part in the virtual summit of the IGAD secretariat.