The Head of WHO, the “World Health Organization”, had expressed his regrets about President Trump’s decision of pulling out agency funding last week amid a time when the world needed to come together to battle the outbreak of coronavirus. Many global leaders condemned the move of the U.S. president.
The U.S. is the “worst-affected country” in the world wherein the death toll of people keeps rising to the extent fatality rates doubling within a span of a week. Following the drop in the rate of new cases coming in the U.S., the President considers options of “reopening the economy” with appropriate guidelines. Moreover, Trump had also accused WHO for spreading misinformation about China’s virus situation which has behind worsening the outbreak.
On the other hand, the director general of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the U.S. “has been a long-standing and generous friend of the WHO, and we hope it will continue to be so.”
“WHO is reviewing the impact on our work of any withdrawal of U.S. funding and we will work with partners to fill any gaps and ensure our work continues uninterrupted”.
While, Bill Gates posted on his Tweeter handle:
“Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds ... The world needs WHO now more than ever.”
Nevertheless, the Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo pushed China for further transparency on the pandemic information flow. Moreover, the G20 seemed to come together in this crisis time whereby agreeing to “suspend debt service payments” for the poorest countries in the world effective from May 1 till this year end. While, Saudi Arabia stated that this would free up over “$20 billion for them to spend on their health systems”.
The U.S. has contributed over “$400 million to the WHO in 2019” which roughly equates to “15% of its budget”. As per a senior official, the U.S. will not pay further the due “assessed contribution” of “$58 million” for 2020. As per another senior official from Trump administration, the money provided to “in voluntary funding tied to specific WHO programs” traditional practice “will be spent with other partners”.
WHO has made an appeal for a fund of over “$1 billion” to be utilised for the operations of battling COVID-19 pandemic.
With Italy and Spain beginning to ease out on the opening of some “non-essential businesses”, in an attempt to bridle the economy “nosediving into recession”, WHO has instructed that we all stand at a “pivotal juncture” therefore easing out restrictions should be well evaluated in various stages. As for Germany, some shops have opened up while schools will be gradually allowed to open from “May 4” although practicing social distance will be mandatory.
Furthermore, some of the American states which have been spared from the “worst of the coronavirus outbreak” could begin to ease out lockdown on their economies by “Trump’s May 1 target date”.
References:
reuters.com
The U.S. is the “worst-affected country” in the world wherein the death toll of people keeps rising to the extent fatality rates doubling within a span of a week. Following the drop in the rate of new cases coming in the U.S., the President considers options of “reopening the economy” with appropriate guidelines. Moreover, Trump had also accused WHO for spreading misinformation about China’s virus situation which has behind worsening the outbreak.
On the other hand, the director general of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the U.S. “has been a long-standing and generous friend of the WHO, and we hope it will continue to be so.”
“WHO is reviewing the impact on our work of any withdrawal of U.S. funding and we will work with partners to fill any gaps and ensure our work continues uninterrupted”.
While, Bill Gates posted on his Tweeter handle:
“Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds ... The world needs WHO now more than ever.”
Nevertheless, the Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo pushed China for further transparency on the pandemic information flow. Moreover, the G20 seemed to come together in this crisis time whereby agreeing to “suspend debt service payments” for the poorest countries in the world effective from May 1 till this year end. While, Saudi Arabia stated that this would free up over “$20 billion for them to spend on their health systems”.
The U.S. has contributed over “$400 million to the WHO in 2019” which roughly equates to “15% of its budget”. As per a senior official, the U.S. will not pay further the due “assessed contribution” of “$58 million” for 2020. As per another senior official from Trump administration, the money provided to “in voluntary funding tied to specific WHO programs” traditional practice “will be spent with other partners”.
WHO has made an appeal for a fund of over “$1 billion” to be utilised for the operations of battling COVID-19 pandemic.
With Italy and Spain beginning to ease out on the opening of some “non-essential businesses”, in an attempt to bridle the economy “nosediving into recession”, WHO has instructed that we all stand at a “pivotal juncture” therefore easing out restrictions should be well evaluated in various stages. As for Germany, some shops have opened up while schools will be gradually allowed to open from “May 4” although practicing social distance will be mandatory.
Furthermore, some of the American states which have been spared from the “worst of the coronavirus outbreak” could begin to ease out lockdown on their economies by “Trump’s May 1 target date”.
References:
reuters.com
