REUTER
U.S. President Donald Trump’s move to halt funding to the World Health Organization over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic prompted condemnation from world leaders who appealed for cooperation and unity.
Trump, who has reacted angrily to accusations his administration’s response to the worst epidemic in a century was haphazard and too slow, had become increasingly hostile towards the U.N. agency before announcing the halt on Tuesday.
The World Health Organization, which is based in Geneva, had promoted China’s “disinformation” about the virus that likely led to a wider outbreak than otherwise would have occurred, Trump said.
The World Health Organization had failed to investigate credible reports from sources in China’s Wuhan province, where the virus was first identified in December, that conflicted with Beijing’s accounts about the spread and “parroted and publicly endorsed” the idea that human to human transmission was not happening, Trump said.
“The World Health Organization failed in this basic duty and must be held accountable,” Trump told a White House news conference on Tuesday.
A U.S. official has stated that Trump made the move despite pushback within his administration, especially from top health advisers. There was no immediate reaction from The World Health Organization, which has been appealing for more than $1 billion to fund operations against the pandemic.
The United States is the biggest overall donor to The World Health Organization, contributing more than $400 million in 2019, roughly 15% of its budget.
Nearly 2 million people globally have been infected and more than 127,000 have died since the disease emerged in China late last year.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it was not the time to reduce resources for The World Health Organization.
“Now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences,” he said in a statement.