Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International President Dr. Christos Christou delivered the following statement today at the 2020 ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment high-level panel on the increasing complexity of health challenges in humanitarian contexts.

Many of the most vulnerable have already suffered terribly due to a lack of state investment in health care for all.

Today, we must acknowledge that this pandemic comes after years of questioning humanitarian assistance and principles, and innumerable cases of violence against health workers and facilities.

MSF knows from previous epidemics that the reduction in access to health care has a devastating effect.

Vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 must be available to all

Finally, whilst we welcome initiatives like the [World Health Organization's] ACT Accelerator and call to action, governments must ensure that health care tools are made accessible to all.