Some 231 million people, or 22 percent (with a range of 16 to 26 percent) of the one billion people in the region were expected to be infected in the 12 month period – most of them showing few or no symptoms, according to a WHO modelling study.
The $6.7 billion will fund the UN’s humanitarian response plan to help the world’s most vulnerable people deal with the pandemic now and in the coming months as food supplies falling and prices soaring, and children missing vaccinations and meals.