( Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump has advised his administration to temporarily stop funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump stated the WHO had “failed in its standard duty and it must be held accountable”. He stated it promoted China’s “disinformation” about the virus that likely resulted in a wider outbreak.
The United States is the greatest overall donor to the Geneva-based WHO, contributing more than $400 million in 2019, roughly 15%of its budget.
CHINA’S FOREIGN MINISTRY
China prompted the United States to satisfy its responsibilities to the WHO. Foreign Ministry representative Zhao Lijian stated the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected nearly 2 million people globally, was at a vital stage and that the U.S. choice would affect all countries.
GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER HEIKO MAAS
” Allocating blame doesn’t assist. The virus understands no borders,” Maas said on Twitter on Wednesday.
” We need to work closely together against #COVID19 Among the very best financial investments is to reinforce the @UN, particularly the under-funded @WHO, for example for establishing and distributing tests and vaccines.”
NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER JACINDA ARDERN
” At a time like this when we require to be sharing information and we require to have guidance we can count on, the WHO has provided that. We will continue to support it and continue to make our contributions,” she stated.
AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER SCOTT MORRISON
Morrison said he sympathised with Trump’s criticisms of the WHO, particularly its support of re-opening China’s “wet markets”, where freshly slaughtered animals are sold and where the