Fang Liu is Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Connecting the World in Its Time of Need: International Aviation's Pandemic Response

Aviation is crucial to the undertaking of the World Food Programme’s humanitarian mission. Source: WFP/Deborah Nguyen
Dr. Fang Liu, Secretary General of the International Civil Aviation Organization. Source: ICAO/Vanda D’Alonzo
A Boeing 737-500 operated by the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service taxiing in Juba, South Sudan. Source: Wikimedia Foundation/UR-SDV

By severing our international connections by air in this manner, COVID-19 has cut off businesses from clients and tourists from destinations and posed disproportionate threats to the poor and vulnerable.