RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has announced supporting a UN response plan to fight the coronavirus with $100 million.

The money is offered to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UN-supported projects, the Saudi Ambassador to the UN Abdallah Al-Mouallimi said at a virtual meeting with UN chief Antonio Guterres.

The Saudi diplomat said that the Kingdom’s funding is part of its efforts against the coronavirus and underlines the importance of global collective action against the pandemic.

Saudi Arabia, he said, backs the UN efforts to lead international action for intensifying combat of COVID-19 and consolidating support for the developing countries and the most vulnerable regions in tackling the pandemic.

Al-Mouallimi said Saudi Arabia has been among the first countries to extend its hand and coordinate with the states that were the most severely impacted by the pandemic.

Guterres thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman for the Kingdom’s generous support, saying Saudi Arabia has worked in partnership with the UN to back security and stability in the world, mainly in Yemen. — Agencies