The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an unprecedented challenge for all countries around the world. Recently the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that although the number of Coronavirus diagnoses and mortality rate in Africa and other regions is still much lower than in Europe and the United States of America, the number of cases in Africa has increased exponentially over the past few days. If this trend continues, Africa and many other developing countries will soon face a health crisis. This will most certainly pose a serious challenge to many that already have weak health systems. They lack sufficient medical supplies, expertise and capacity and will struggle to meet the demands to combat COVID-19.

The Finance Centre for South-South Cooperation (FCSSC), with the support of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), is launching a call for donations through a blockchain-based platform Bithelp, affiliated with FCSSC, for fundraising to provide cross-border support in response to disasters and crises. This initiative will reinforce UNOSSC’s response to COVID-19. Cryptocurrencies are being raised through this platform in order to purchase and dispatch medical supplies to countries in urgent need. UNOSSC will support this innovative initiative by connecting needs expressed by developing countries with supplies while FCSSC and its partners coordinate the purchase and disbursement of those supplies.

Donations are open from 18 May 2020 through 2 June 2020. Your generous support to assist in halting the spread of the virus will be deeply appreciated. To learn more and to donate cryptocurrencies on Bithelp, please click here.