KATHMANDU, MAY 22

The United Nations' resident coordinator Sara Beysolow Nyanti has made a call to the international community to extend support for Covid-19 management to Nepal as infections are spiking at an alarming rate in the country amid the second wave of the pandemic.

Reflecting on the current situation of the pandemic in the country, Nyanti spoke on behalf of Nepalis requesting people all over the globe with the phrase "help us breathe".

She has drawn attention of the international community towards Nepal's current situation wherein it is currently one among those countries with highest test positivity. She further states that one in every two people are testing positive in any given date, in a video posted on her Twitter page.

Coordinator Nyanti forwarded an appeal for provision of Covid-19 support in terms of vaccines, oxygens, and other medical supplies.

"I'm screaming on top of my lungs asking you please help those who can't breathe. 'Cause they can't scream," she can be heard saying in the video. " Now, I'm speaking on behalf of all those who have been helping you breathe. Help us breathe"

An estimated $83.7 million would be required for as many as 750,000 people targeted, for almost 5 million people who are in need, as per Nyanti.

The United Nations and other partners on Friday launched the Nepal COVID-19 Response Plan calling for US$ 83.7 million to mobilize an emergency response over the next three months to assist 750,000 of the most vulnerable people affected by the pandemic.

In a statement released Friday, the UN said "The Government of Nepal is leading the response, but capacities are stretched to breaking point and international solidarity is urgently needed to assist the most vulnerable people with life-saving response activities in health, food security, education, nutrition, shelter, protection, and water and sanitation."

The UN Resident Coordinator further highlighted that the current outbreak has a devastating impact not just on health but across all sectors, hitting the poorest and most marginalized people in Nepali society the hardest.

The COVID-19 Response Plan calls for swift action and international solidarity needed to save lives and prevent unnecessary suffering at present and in the difficult weeks to come.

"We have no time to lose," Nyati concluded.