US president Donald Trump has lashed out at the World Health Organization, accusing the world’s health body of being biased towards China in its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a Tuesday White House briefing, he threatened to put a “very powerful hold” on US funding to the organisation.
Trump later wrote on Twitter: “The [WHO] really blew it. For some reason, funded largely by the United States, yet very China centric.”
He added: “We will be giving that a good look. Fortunately I rejected their advice on keeping our borders open to China early on. Why did they give us such a faulty recommendation?”
In response to Trump’s attack, the WHO’s regional director for Europe said that now was “not the time to cut back funding”.
WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, added in a Wednesday press briefing: “At the end of the day, the people belong to all political parties. The focus of all political parties should be to save their people. Please don’t politicize this virus.”
He also said: “If you don’t want many more body bags, then you refrain from politicizing it.”
SOURCE: Agencies
