WHO chief regrets trump’s decision to halt funding

FT ONLINE

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said it regretted the US decision to halt funding.

At a virtual press conference from Geneva on Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that WHO is reviewing the impact of any withdrawal of US funding and will work with its partners to fill any financial gaps to ensure the work continues uninterrupted.

Our commitment to public health, science and to serving all the people of the world without fear or favor remains absolute. Our mission and mandate are to work with all nations equally, without regard to the size of their populations or economies," the WHO chief said.

He said, "The US has been a longstanding and generous friend to WHO, and we hope it will continue to be so,"reports UNB.

"WHO is not only fighting COVID-19. We're also working to address polio, measles, malaria, Ebola, HIV, tuberculosis, malnutrition, cancer, diabetes, mental health and many other diseases and conditions," he noted.

Tedros called all the nations to be united in the common struggle against a common pandemic, because "When we are divided, the virus exploits the cracks between us."

"WHO is committed to serving the world's people, and to accountability for the resources with which it is entrusted," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced that he had instructed his administration to suspend funding to the WHO, which he accused of "severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus."

Shortly after the announcement, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the WHO must be supported, as it is "absolutely critical" to the world's efforts to win the war against COVID-19.