The Trump administration is working behind the scenes to abandon a commitment of millions of dollars in funding for the WHO, despite Trump's announcement that his administration was pausing funding while reviewing the group's handling of the coronavirus https://t.co/TU1tFMkV2r
— CNN (@CNN) April 15, 2020
The World Health Organisation has responded to Donald Trump’s controversial decision to withhold funding from the UN health body.
W-H-O director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has called for unity against the “common threat” posed by coronavirus, after the US president’s intervention.
In the opening statement of the WHO’s daily press conference Ghebreyesus reaffirmed the principles of the organisation’s founding ideals and constitution, ”to protect and promote the health of the world’s people.”
Addressing the Trump’s decision to withhold funding, he went on:
”The United States of America has been a longstanding and generous friend to WHO and we hope it will continue to be so. We regret the decision of the president of the United States to order a halt in the funding to WHO. With support from the people and government of the United States, WHO works to improve the health of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.
… This is a time for all of us to be united in our struggle against our common threat. When we are divided the virus exploits the cracks between us.”
Trump has repeatedly labelled COVID-19 the “Chinese virus” and criticized the U.N. health agency for being too lenient on China, where the novel virus first emerged late last year.
Ghebreyesus said that the WHO would work with its other member states and partners to try to make up any shortfall in funding, but he would not be drawn in questioning into saying just how much the organisation would be left out of pocket.
U.S. House of Representatives SpeakerNancy Pelosihas branded President Trump’s decision to halt funding for the W-H-O as ‘senseless and dangerous’, promising to challenge it.
“The President’s halting of funding to the WHO as it leads the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic is senseless,” Pelosi said in a statement. “This decision is dangerous, illegal and will be swiftly challenged.”
The Tanaiste Simon Coveney similarly expressed his disgust upon hearing the news on twitter…
This is indefensible decision, in midst of global pandemic. So many vulnerable populations rely on @WHO – deliberately undermining funding & trust now is shocking. Now is a time for global leadership & unity to save lives, not division and blame! https://t.co/nOknZnBqDd
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) April 15, 2020
