citation

"Online Event: Covid-19’s Next Cascade of Crises." CSIS Commission on Strengthening America's Health Security, Center for Strategic and International Studies, July 22, 2020. Accessed December 21, 2023. https://healthsecurity.csis.org/events/online-event-covid-19-s-next-cascade-of-crises/

Photo Credit: Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images

On July 22, the Commission hosted a public discussion with Mark Lowcock, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, along with Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R-IN-05) and Congressman Ami Bera (D-CA-07). Dr. Julie Gerberding, Executive Vice President and Chief Patient Officer at Merck and Commission Co-Chair, moderated the discussion.

On July 17, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs released an updated Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19, an effort to direct attention and resources to the insufficient response to Covid-19 globally, especially in humanitarian settings. The Plan outlines how without early coordinated intervention, we will see a drastic deterioration in humanitarian conditions, economic prosperity, and civil stability in fragile states. The Panel discussed the cost of inaction at this critical moment, implications for U.S. leadership, and how U.S. interests could be harmed without more decisive support and engagement.

Dr. Julie Gerberding moderated a discussion between panelists on how the United States, and particularly the U.S. Congress, can act to stem the global spread of Covid-19, avert catastrophic outcomes for the world’s most vulnerable, and mitigate heightened disorder across multiple regions.

Full video of the event is available here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtYzrXp_TVs&feature=youtu.be

This event was made possible by the generous support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.