<p>UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gave a stern assessment Monday of the international community's failure to mount a coordinated response to the Covid-19 pandemic, saying multilateralism is falling short both on vaccines and economic rescue measures.</p>.<p>"Advancing an equitable global response and recovery from the pandemic is putting multilateralism to the test," Guterres said in a speech to the global body's Financing for Development Forum.</p>.<p>"So far, it is a test we have failed."</p>.<p>As an example of the grim picture, the Portuguese national pointed out how just 10 countries are receiving approximately 75 per cent of the world's available vaccines.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/un-chief-calls-for-more-pandemic-debt-relief-for-poorer-nations-968090.html">UN chief calls for more pandemic debt relief for poorer nations</a></strong></p>.<p>"Many countries have yet to start vaccinating their health care workers and most vulnerable citizens," Guterres said.</p>.<p>"A global vaccine gap threatens everyone's health and wellbeing," he added. "We need equitable access to vaccines for everyone, everywhere."</p>.<p>A similar "lack of solidarity" on the economic recovery front means massive disparities between countries as they battle against the pandemic, Guterres said.</p>.<p>While some nations have mobilized multi-trillion-dollar relief packages, many developing states face "insurmountable debt burdens that will put the (UN's Sustainable Development Goals) completely out of reach if not corrected," Guterres said.</p>.<p>Even in 2019 prior to the pandemic, 25 countries were spending more on debt service than on education, health, and social services combined, the UN chief said.</p>.<p>"Development assistance is needed more than ever, and I urge donors and international institutions to step up," he said.</p>.<p>Guterres said the United Nations welcomes the Group of 20's support for an extension of a temporary suspension of debt service repayments, "but I urge a further extension into 2022."</p>.<p>Since the start of the pandemic a year ago, about 120 million people have slid back into extreme poverty, while the equivalent of 255 million full-time jobs have been lost, Guterres added.</p>
<p>UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gave a stern assessment Monday of the international community's failure to mount a coordinated response to the Covid-19 pandemic, saying multilateralism is falling short both on vaccines and economic rescue measures.</p>.<p>"Advancing an equitable global response and recovery from the pandemic is putting multilateralism to the test," Guterres said in a speech to the global body's Financing for Development Forum.</p>.<p>"So far, it is a test we have failed."</p>.<p>As an example of the grim picture, the Portuguese national pointed out how just 10 countries are receiving approximately 75 per cent of the world's available vaccines.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/un-chief-calls-for-more-pandemic-debt-relief-for-poorer-nations-968090.html">UN chief calls for more pandemic debt relief for poorer nations</a></strong></p>.<p>"Many countries have yet to start vaccinating their health care workers and most vulnerable citizens," Guterres said.</p>.<p>"A global vaccine gap threatens everyone's health and wellbeing," he added. "We need equitable access to vaccines for everyone, everywhere."</p>.<p>A similar "lack of solidarity" on the economic recovery front means massive disparities between countries as they battle against the pandemic, Guterres said.</p>.<p>While some nations have mobilized multi-trillion-dollar relief packages, many developing states face "insurmountable debt burdens that will put the (UN's Sustainable Development Goals) completely out of reach if not corrected," Guterres said.</p>.<p>Even in 2019 prior to the pandemic, 25 countries were spending more on debt service than on education, health, and social services combined, the UN chief said.</p>.<p>"Development assistance is needed more than ever, and I urge donors and international institutions to step up," he said.</p>.<p>Guterres said the United Nations welcomes the Group of 20's support for an extension of a temporary suspension of debt service repayments, "but I urge a further extension into 2022."</p>.<p>Since the start of the pandemic a year ago, about 120 million people have slid back into extreme poverty, while the equivalent of 255 million full-time jobs have been lost, Guterres added.</p>