Secretary General António Guterres — As COVID-19 spreads across the continent, Africa has responded swiftly to the pandemic, and as of now reported cases are lower than feared.

I express my total solidarity with the people and governments of Africa in tackling COVID-19.

We are calling for international action to strengthen Africa's health systems, maintain food supplies, avoid a financial crisis, support education, protect jobs, keep households and businesses afloat, and cushion the continent against lost income and export earnings.

African countries should also have quick, equal and affordable access to any eventual vaccine and treatment, that must be considered global public goods

I have been calling for a global response package amounting to at least 10 per cent of the world's Gross Domestic Product.

It will also be essential for African countries to sustain their efforts to silence the guns and address violent extremism - and I welcome African support for my call for a global ceasefire.