International
AU condemns move by Trump to cut WHO spending amid spread of COVID-19
The African Union (AU) has condemned moves by President of the United States of America, Donald Trump to cut funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moussa Faki, chairperson of the African Union commission in a post on Twitter on Wednesday, described the move as “deeply regrettable” and said “today more than ever, the world depends on WHOs leadership” in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
He wrote; “The US government t decision to suspend funding to @WHO is deeply regrettable. Today more than ever,t he world depends on WHO’s leadership to steer the global #Covid_19 pandemic response.Our collective responsibility to ensure WHO can fully carry out its mandate, has never been more urgent.”
Similarly, the European Union joined worldwide condemnation of Trump’s decision to halt funding to the WHO, saying it was unjustified during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Deeply regret U.S. decision to suspend funding to WHO… There is no reason justifying this move at a moment when their efforts are needed more than ever,” EU foreign policy Chief Josep Borrell said on Twitter.
Germany has also slammed the US decision to suspend payments to the WHO, as Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned against “blaming others” for the coronavirus crisis.
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US President Trump announced the funding freeze on Tuesday, accusing the WHO of “severely mismanaging” the spread of the virus.
“Blaming others won’t help. The virus knows no borders,” Maas wrote on Twitter.
“One of the best investments is to strengthen the UN, above all the under-financed WHO… in the development and distribution of tests and vaccines.”
The US is the biggest contributor to the WHO, making payments of $400m
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said now is “not the time” to be cutting funding to the WHO, and the medical community has also criticised the move.
Dr Patrice Harris, president of the American Medical Association called it “a dangerous step in the wrong direction that will not make defeating COVID-19 easier”.
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