All countries ‘dangerously unprepared’ for future pandemics: IFRC

The world is “dangerously unprepared” for future pandemics, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) says in are post published on Monday, calling on countries to update their preparedness plans by year-end.

In its World Disasters Report 2022, the IFRC says “all countries remain dangerously unprepared for future outbreaks “despite COVID-19 killing more people than any earthquake, drought, or hurricane in history.

“The next pandemic could be just around the corner. If the experience of COVID-19 won’t quicken our steps toward preparedness, what will?” says Jagan Chap again, secretary general of the IFRC, the world’s largest disaster response network.

“There will be no excuse for a continued lack of preparedness after having gone through three terrible years.”

The report says that countries should review their legislation to ensure it is in line with their pandemic preparedness plans by the end of 2023 and adopt a new treaty and revised International Health Regulations by next year that would invest more in the readiness of local communities.

It also recommended that countries increase domestic health finance by 1% of gross domestic product and global health finance by at least $15 billion per year, which Chap again described as a “good investment to make”.

“The important thing is there has to be a political will to commit to that,” he says. “If it is there, it’s possible.”

The world was not ready for COVID-19.

No earthquake, drought or hurricane in history claimed more lives than this pandemic.

Two IFRC reports released today, the World Disasters Report & the Everyone Counts, offer insights into successes & challenges over the past 3 years.

— IFRC (@ifrc) January 30, 2023