The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is supporting efforts to combat the novel coronavirus outbreak in China

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is supporting efforts to combat the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, especially in the affected regions and municipalities of China, and in neighbouring countries in Asia. The SDC is taking action in response to an appeal from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and is supporting the WHO in China and via its Regional Office for the Western Pacific. The SDC's Global Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid departments have allocated CHF 600,000 to the efforts.

Global Cooperation contribution

The SDC's Global Cooperation Department has increased its engagement in collaboration with the WHO China Country Office and the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific by CHF 300,000. Switzerland has been supporting China and neighbouring countries in the Belt and Road Initiative in strengthening local capacities to prevent and manage major epidemics. Approximately CHF 250,000 had already been allocated to information and detection efforts, running a situation dashboard for the UN and studies on the economic impact in the affected countries. The additional CHF 300,000 will support preparedness in other countries in the region, including Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Swiss Humanitarian Aid contribution

Swiss Humanitarian Aid is providing an additional CHF 300,000 to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. With 192 national societies and over 13 million volunteers worldwide, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world's largest community-based humanitarian network.  National Red Cross and Red Crescent societies provide a rapid, targeted response on the ground in the lead up to, during and after a crisis. Thanks to their cultural and social ties with communities, the national societies are making a vital contribution to stopping the spread of the virus. The appeal seeks to support broad communication about the risks of the virus and strengthen the commitment and preparedness of local Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is coordinating closely with the relevant national authorities (health ministries) and international organisations (the WHO, UNICEF, etc.) and with regional inter-agency platforms to support an efficient international response to the crisis.

Further information:

Website of the FDFA: Dossier Coronavirus

Address for enquiries:

FDFA Communication
Federal Palace West Wing
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 58 462 31 53
E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch
Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher:

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs