President: Azerbaijan provided assistance to more than 30 countries in fight against pandemic

"Azerbaijan has provided humanitarian and financial assistance to more than 30 countries, including NAM members, to support their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic," Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said, speaking at the Mid-term Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, Report informs.

The head of state noted that Azerbaijan has also made voluntary financial contributions to the World Health Organization in the amount of 10 mln dollars, half of which was earmarked for NAM member states..

"In the face of global health crises, vaccine nationalism is worrisome. Azerbaijan has publicly criticized the conduct of some countries that stockpiled far more vaccines than they require. So far, more than 82 % of vaccine doses have been purchased by wealthy countries. While only 0,9% have gone to low-income countries.

"To address this problem, Azerbaijan, on behalf of the NAM initiated a resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council on ensuring equitable, universal access to vaccines for all countries, which was unanimously approved this March.

"Moreover, we have used every occasion to urge developed countries and international donor organizations to provide assistance to developing, in particular least developed countries against the pandemic.

"Taking into account the cross-cutting nature of challenges, Azerbaijani Chairmanship has held online meetings of ministers of health, ministers of labor. We are also planning to convene meetings of other line ministries including those in charge of communication, education," the Azerbaijani leader said.