Trump cuts funding of WHO. Tedro hiong-gan liao !
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And here in Sinkieland, we have a clown who publicly expresses support for the 'leadership' of the WHO, at a time when the backlash against the WHO is escalating in many countries.
What is wrong supporting the bro?
Indian chief is bro to emperor xi
Emperor lee want bro to xi too
So all praise each other
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Tedros plays the race card.
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And here in Sinkieland, we have a clown who publicly expresses support for the 'leadership' of the WHO, at a time when the backlash against the WHO is escalating in many countries.
Denounce then gold standard how? Fake?
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Really hope trump wack this bloody Ethiopian chia lat chia lat
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Donald Trump's move means the WHO just lost its biggest financial backer. Here's what it could do to the fight against coronavirus - ABC News
Donald Trump plans to halt US funding to the WHO, which he says has "failed in its basic duty".(Reuters: Leah Millis)
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US President Donald Trump's criticism of the World Health Organisation (WHO) over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic finally boiled over today when he announced he was instructing his administration to halt funding of the organisation.
Mr Trump said the WHO had "failed in its basic duty", promoted Chinese "disinformation" about the virus, and "it must be held accountable".
But the decision to cut funding to the WHO comes at a time when the organisation says it needs financial support now more than ever to fight the worst global pandemic in 100 years.
Here is how we got to this point and why Mr Trump has been increasingly critical of the WHO.
What has Trump had to say about China and the WHO?
Mr Trump had been suggesting for some time he was going to cut US funding to the WHO, saying it was fortunate he rejected its advice on "keeping our borders open to China early on".
Last week, the US President attacked the organisation for being too "China-centric" in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
"The WHO really blew it," he said.
Since then, Mr Trump has continued to retweet articles critical of China and the WHO, including one with a headline suggesting China had not been truthful about COVID-19.
The US President says the coronavirus outbreak could have been contained at its source and lives could have been saved if the UN health agency had done a better of investigating reports coming out of China early on.
The WHO has declined to comment on Mr Trump's decision.
Why is Trump saying all this?
According to the ABC's Washington bureau chief David Lipson, Mr Trump is under mounting pressure over the rising coronavirus death toll in the United States.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the organisation needs resources now more than ever to fight coronavirus.(Reuters: Denis Balibouse)
According to the WHO, the source of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus causing COVID-19, is currently unknown.
It says all available evidence suggests SARS-CoV-2 has a natural animal origin and is not a constructed virus. But it has suggested the virus is linked to bats.
As for the first human cases of COVID-19, the WHO says they were identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
At this stage, it says it is not possible to determine precisely how humans in China were initially infected with SARS-CoV-2.
And what has the WHO said about China?
A seafood market in Wuhan appears to have played a role in spreading coronavirus, but no-one knows for sure that is where it started.(Reuters)
In early updates on the virus, the WHO said China alerted it on December 31 that it was noticing some strange pneumonia cases in Wuhan, in the Hubei province.
According to the WHO, authorities said they had been noticing cases of the mysterious disease since about December 12.
Since the outbreak, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has praised China for its response, commending President Xi Jinping's "rare leadership", according to Reuters.
The organisation has also defended itself against Mr Trump's criticisms, with a senior adviser to WHO director-general Bruce Aylward last week saying its work with Beijing authorities was important to understanding the outbreak.
"This is what we did with every other hard-hit country like Spain and had nothing to do with China specifically."
What is China's view on this?
So far there has been little reaction from Beijing to Mr Trump's decision to suspend funding to the WHO.
But when asked about Mr Trump's criticism of the WHO last week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Mr Ghebreyesus played an important role in promoting international cooperation to combat the pandemic. However, he didn't directly address the criticism.
"China will continue to support the work of WHO in coordinating international efforts to counter the virus," he said, adding US decision to halt payments to the WHO would harm the "global fight against the virus".
According to the ABC's China correspondent Bill Birtles, the Government has already spent weeks defending both the WHO and China's own pandemic control efforts.
What will losing aid mean for the WHO?
The US President clearly feels he's not getting value for money if the WHO is taking China's line over that of the US.
The US contributes more to the WHO's budget than any other country, providing $620 million ($US398 million) a year of its $7.5 billion annual budget.
This funding fluctuates year to year and does depend on whether all the pledged money comes through.
That's about 10 times what China puts in. Small countries like Australia provide about 0.75 per cent of the WHO's yearly funding.
However, Mr Trump was already planning to reduce the amount of money the US contributed to the WHO before the pandemic hit.
In the White House budget for 2021, he proposed cutting the US contribution to just $90 million a year.
Cutting off aid could be a major blow to the organisation, which says it needs more resources than ever to conduct vaccine trials and distribute test kits.
On April 11, the WHO said it would need an extra $1.5 billion to fight the coronavirus pandemic this year.
Mr Ghebreyesus has also urged governments to avoid politicising the virus.
"The focus of all political parties should be to save their people," he said.
"If you don't want many more body bags, then you refrain from politicising it," he said.
Share
US President Donald Trump's criticism of the World Health Organisation (WHO) over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic finally boiled over today when he announced he was instructing his administration to halt funding of the organisation.
Mr Trump said the WHO had "failed in its basic duty", promoted Chinese "disinformation" about the virus, and "it must be held accountable".
But the decision to cut funding to the WHO comes at a time when the organisation says it needs financial support now more than ever to fight the worst global pandemic in 100 years.
Here is how we got to this point and why Mr Trump has been increasingly critical of the WHO.
What has Trump had to say about China and the WHO?
Mr Trump had been suggesting for some time he was going to cut US funding to the WHO, saying it was fortunate he rejected its advice on "keeping our borders open to China early on".
Last week, the US President attacked the organisation for being too "China-centric" in its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
"The WHO really blew it," he said.
Since then, Mr Trump has continued to retweet articles critical of China and the WHO, including one with a headline suggesting China had not been truthful about COVID-19.
The US President says the coronavirus outbreak could have been contained at its source and lives could have been saved if the UN health agency had done a better of investigating reports coming out of China early on.
The WHO has declined to comment on Mr Trump's decision.
Why is Trump saying all this?
According to the ABC's Washington bureau chief David Lipson, Mr Trump is under mounting pressure over the rising coronavirus death toll in the United States.
So what has the WHO said on the origin of coronavirus?
According to the WHO, the source of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus causing COVID-19, is currently unknown.
It says all available evidence suggests SARS-CoV-2 has a natural animal origin and is not a constructed virus. But it has suggested the virus is linked to bats.
As for the first human cases of COVID-19, the WHO says they were identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.
At this stage, it says it is not possible to determine precisely how humans in China were initially infected with SARS-CoV-2.
And what has the WHO said about China?
In early updates on the virus, the WHO said China alerted it on December 31 that it was noticing some strange pneumonia cases in Wuhan, in the Hubei province.
According to the WHO, authorities said they had been noticing cases of the mysterious disease since about December 12.
Since the outbreak, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has praised China for its response, commending President Xi Jinping's "rare leadership", according to Reuters.
The organisation has also defended itself against Mr Trump's criticisms, with a senior adviser to WHO director-general Bruce Aylward last week saying its work with Beijing authorities was important to understanding the outbreak.
"This is what we did with every other hard-hit country like Spain and had nothing to do with China specifically."
What is China's view on this?
So far there has been little reaction from Beijing to Mr Trump's decision to suspend funding to the WHO.
But when asked about Mr Trump's criticism of the WHO last week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Mr Ghebreyesus played an important role in promoting international cooperation to combat the pandemic. However, he didn't directly address the criticism.
"China will continue to support the work of WHO in coordinating international efforts to counter the virus," he said, adding US decision to halt payments to the WHO would harm the "global fight against the virus".
According to the ABC's China correspondent Bill Birtles, the Government has already spent weeks defending both the WHO and China's own pandemic control efforts.
What will losing aid mean for the WHO?
The US President clearly feels he's not getting value for money if the WHO is taking China's line over that of the US.
The US contributes more to the WHO's budget than any other country, providing $620 million ($US398 million) a year of its $7.5 billion annual budget.
This funding fluctuates year to year and does depend on whether all the pledged money comes through.
That's about 10 times what China puts in. Small countries like Australia provide about 0.75 per cent of the WHO's yearly funding.
However, Mr Trump was already planning to reduce the amount of money the US contributed to the WHO before the pandemic hit.
In the White House budget for 2021, he proposed cutting the US contribution to just $90 million a year.
Cutting off aid could be a major blow to the organisation, which says it needs more resources than ever to conduct vaccine trials and distribute test kits.
On April 11, the WHO said it would need an extra $1.5 billion to fight the coronavirus pandemic this year.
Mr Ghebreyesus has also urged governments to avoid politicising the virus.
"The focus of all political parties should be to save their people," he said.
"If you don't want many more body bags, then you refrain from politicising it," he said.
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China says 'seriously concerned' by US freeze of WHO funds
A woman rides an escalator at a Beijing subway station during the coronavirus outbreak. (Photo: AFP/WANG ZHAO)
15 Apr 2020 05:07PM
Bookmark
BEIJING: China said Wednesday (Apr 15) it was "seriously concerned" about the US decision to suspend funding for the World Health Organization, and urged Washington to fulfill its obligations during the coronavirus crisis.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused the Geneva-based body of putting political correctness above life-saving measures as he ordered the funding freeze for "mismanaging" the pandemic.
"China is seriously concerned about the US announcement to suspend funding for the World Health Organization," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular press briefing.
"The current global epidemic situation is grim. It is at a critical moment. This US decision will weaken WHO's capacities and undermine the international cooperation against the epidemic."
READ: Trump halts World Health Organization funding over handling of COVID-19
The US and China have been sparring over the deadly virus, which was first reported in China and has killed more than 125,000 worldwide.
Trump's latest decision reflects his belief that the WHO has been biased towards China, colluding to prevent the US' main economic rival from having to be open about the unfolding health crisis.
"We urge the United States to earnestly fulfill their responsibilities and obligations, and support the WHO-led international action against the epidemic," Zhao said, adding that the agency plays an "irreplaceable role" against the pandemic.
A woman rides an escalator at a Beijing subway station during the coronavirus outbreak. (Photo: AFP/WANG ZHAO)
15 Apr 2020 05:07PM
Bookmark
BEIJING: China said Wednesday (Apr 15) it was "seriously concerned" about the US decision to suspend funding for the World Health Organization, and urged Washington to fulfill its obligations during the coronavirus crisis.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday accused the Geneva-based body of putting political correctness above life-saving measures as he ordered the funding freeze for "mismanaging" the pandemic.
"China is seriously concerned about the US announcement to suspend funding for the World Health Organization," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told a regular press briefing.
"The current global epidemic situation is grim. It is at a critical moment. This US decision will weaken WHO's capacities and undermine the international cooperation against the epidemic."
READ: Trump halts World Health Organization funding over handling of COVID-19
The US and China have been sparring over the deadly virus, which was first reported in China and has killed more than 125,000 worldwide.
Trump's latest decision reflects his belief that the WHO has been biased towards China, colluding to prevent the US' main economic rival from having to be open about the unfolding health crisis.
"We urge the United States to earnestly fulfill their responsibilities and obligations, and support the WHO-led international action against the epidemic," Zhao said, adding that the agency plays an "irreplaceable role" against the pandemic.
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Fuck the CCP. They can go fund WHO 100% themselves. Created and unleashed the virus on the world, now want to KPKB when the US rightfully stopped funding. They should be more concerned that a US led international coalition force is going to force a regime change in chinkland after the world is vaccinated.
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The Chicoms should stop concern trolling and start helping themselves. They have zero moral high ground.
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Chonese people should shower more often and eat more curry.
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Lan Jiao lah! WHO NEED a BANKRUPTED BEGGAR USA to give $$$$?? Fucking Bankrupted Beggar USA already O$P$ owed UN feeds for DECADES! Causing UN to go Bankrupted unable to pay staffs.
China & even SMALLER countries like Saudi Golden Escalator can REALISTICALLY FUND UN & WHO 10X better than USA.
Dotard is a CHILDISH LOW IQ MORON who have no fucking idea that IT WAS ONLY PRIVILEGE GRANTED TO USA for them to fund WHO. Many other competitors willing to FUND UN & WHO to TAKEOVER THE PRIVILEGE.
DOTARD is REALLY AN IDIOT!! Unseen in world political history. MAGA!
China & even SMALLER countries like Saudi Golden Escalator can REALISTICALLY FUND UN & WHO 10X better than USA.
Dotard is a CHILDISH LOW IQ MORON who have no fucking idea that IT WAS ONLY PRIVILEGE GRANTED TO USA for them to fund WHO. Many other competitors willing to FUND UN & WHO to TAKEOVER THE PRIVILEGE.
DOTARD is REALLY AN IDIOT!! Unseen in world political history. MAGA!
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hat happens if the US stops funding the WHO in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic?
By Erin Handley and Michael Walsh
Posted 43 minutes ago
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.
VIDEO: The US gives the most money to the WHO, but Donald Trump wants to freeze those funds. (ABC News)
RELATED STORY: Pelosi threatens challenge, leads global condemnation over Trump's WHO funding freeze
RELATED STORY: Trump says US will halt funding to WHO over handling of coronavirus pandemic
RELATED STORY: Trump says he likes top doctor a day after retweeting #FireFauci
US President Donald Trump has threatened to halt funds to the UN's World Health Organisation (WHO).
While we don't yet know what form the funding freeze could take, or even if Mr Trump has the authority to withdraw, experts fear cutting out a large chunk of the WHO's funding could have disastrous effects on the world's most vulnerable countries.
The WHO has been criticised for its response to the pandemic, but what are the ripple effects of defunding it?
Firstly, how is the WHO funded?
PHOTO: WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the group was still assessing how their programs will be affected. (Reuters: Denis Balibouse)
The US is by far the WHO's biggest donor, giving almost $US900 million ($1.4 billion) to the WHO's budget for 2018 and 2019, according to information on the agency's website.
There are two funding streams: assessed contributions, and voluntary contributions.
Assessed contributions are what countries pay in order to be a member of the organisation — the WHO has 194 member states across the world.
Explained: The story of the WHO
It's long been the preeminent international health organisation, but questions have been asked about its response to several infectious diseases. Radio National's Rear Vision podcast looks at the story of the WHO.
The payment is calculated based on the country's wealth and population, which is why countries like the US pay more than lower-income countries.
Dr Davies said that budget is for operational purposes at headquarters, including costs like wages and flights, but several states have not paid their dues.
For several years now, the WHO says, these assessed contributions have made up less than a quarter of the WHO's financing.
The other three-quarters come from voluntary contributions, which can be flexible or earmarked for specific projects.
The US is by far the biggest donor to that, making up 15 per cent of the total voluntary contributions.
EMBED: Here's how the funding contributions of different countries compare.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the second-largest voluntary donor, contributing 9.8 per cent. Australia contributes 0.75 per cent, while China gives 0.21 per cent.
The WHO has a proposed budget of $7.5 billion ($US4.8 billion) for 2020–21.
So, how will a funding cut impact poorer nations?
PHOTO: Countries with weaker health systems and lower income countries could be affected if the US pulled the plug. (Reuters: Adnan Abidi)
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was asked directly about the shortfall a potential US withdrawal would create, and how it would impact the WHO.
Dr Tedros did not respond with a dollar amount, saying the group was still assessing how their programs will be affected.
The next red zones
As coronavirus spreads around the globe, health experts and aid groups fear some of the world's most vulnerable countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific could become new hotspots for COVID-19.
"We will work with partners to fill any gaps and ensure our work continues uninterrupted," he said. "We will get back to you after our assessment is completed."
"If you withdraw funding, as Trump is suggesting, all that will happen is the poor people will suffer disproportionately around the world because they're the ones that gain the most from the WHO," he told the ABC.
Dr Sara Davies, an expert in global health governance at Griffith University, said if the cuts go ahead, "we will see the WHO have to make tough decisions about which programs it can continue".
PHOTO: Vulnerable countries in the Pacific will likely be affected by any funding cut. (WHO Western Pacific)
There are 50 WHO Collaborating Centres based in Australia and more than 800 globally, which help support the WHO's health programmes around the world.
Professor Bauman said cuts to US funding would affect the work they do, including in extremely vulnerable regions like the Pacific.
"Those kinds of things will be resurgent, and that will be a global health disaster: and the US won't benefit from that either, because the epidemic will be prolonged, the economic downturn will be bad for the US too, and the US will lose trust and leadership."
Apart from declaring pandemics, what does the WHO do?
PHOTO: Part of the WHO's work includes vaccinating against diseases like polio, measles and cholera. (Reuters: Jorge Silva)
The body's mission is to "promote health, keep the world safe, serve the vulnerable".
The WHO has a triple-billion target — 1 billion people benefiting from universal health coverage, 1 billion more people better protected from health emergencies, and 1 billion more people having better health and wellbeing.
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
The WHO says "hitting the triple-billion targets would result in 30 million lives saved, 100 million healthy life-years improved and 2–4 per cent economic growth in low and middle-income countries" by 2023.
The majority of the WHO's work is centred on Africa and the Middle East, with eradicating polio a key focus of the group.
More than 67 per cent of funds are focused on Africa and the Middle East, and more than a quarter — 26 per cent — goes towards eradicating polio.
Around 12 per cent goes towards increasing access to essential health and nutrition services, while around 9 per cent goes towards vaccine-preventable diseases.
Is the WHO beholden to China?
PHOTO: The WHO has come under strident criticism for advising against travel bans on China. (AP: Kin Cheung)
The WHO has been criticised for not declaring the outbreak a pandemic sooner, and for advising against travel bans on China. Professor Sikora said those decisions have since proved to be big mistakes.
Taiwan has also accused the WHO of suppressing information about the country's coronavirus prevention measures. Taiwan is not a member of the WHO, which is only open to UN members (Taiwan was voted out of the UN in 1971 in favour of China).
"The WHO is facing so much criticism because of the efforts it went to ensure that, in the early stages, China provided as much information as possible," Dr Davies said. "The WHO is in a very difficult position."
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
Global health politics researcher Jeremy Youde from the University of Minnesota Duluth said, "it's not accurate to say that the WHO is beholden to China".
Coronavirus questions answered
Breaking down the latest news and research to understand how the world is living through an epidemic, this is the ABC's Coronacast podcast.
"It can't impose fines or threaten to invade; it needs to try and persuade."
He said the WHO had to weigh up how best to engage with China at a time when public health and geopolitics intersect.
"The WHO does need reform. Everybody knows that," Professor Sikora said.
But he said it's the best organisation to deal with global health and help nations strategise — so rather than scrapping it, it should be improved.
He said the WHO was plagued by bureaucratic hang-ups.
"If it means firing top management, let's do that," he said.
"It's top-heavy. It concentrates on the diplomatic life, the cycle of embassy parties … there's a lot that could be changed."
PHOTO: Dr Davies said there will need to be an independent review on the WHO's response to COVID-19. (Reuters)
Dr Davies said there will need to be an independent review of the WHO's response to COVID-19, after reviews were held to investigate its adherence to procedure during the H1N1 pandemic and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
She said this would help "clear the air" and clarify whether the WHO Director-General and others in senior leadership had followed international health regulations.
What happens now?
PHOTO: Donald Trump's announcement has been widely panned by health, humanitarian and charity groups. (Reuters: Leah Millis )
Despite some criticism of the WHO's handling of the crisis, many say threatening to cut funds during the biggest pandemic since the Spanish Flu is the wrong approach — including Bill and Melinda Gates, whose foundation is a major voluntary donor to the WHO.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has now announced an extra $US150 million ($238.6 million) to help speed up the development of treatments, vaccines and public health measures to tackle coronavirus.
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Mr Trump's decision was "a crime against humanity" and a "betrayal of global solidarity", according to Richard Horton, the editor-in-chief of the Lancet medical journal.
Humanitarian group CARE said abandoning the WHO in this time of crisis "will only put more lives at risk".
However, he also accused the WHO of making "significant mistakes" during the outbreak, saying the body was slow to declare the virus a pandemic, made the wrong calls when it told countries not to close their national borders and expressed support for wet markets.
PHOTO: Humanitarian group CARE said that abandoning the WHO in this time of crisis "will only put more lives at risk". (AAP: Costfoto/Sipa USA)
Dr Davies and Dr Youde pointed out Mr Trump has sought cuts to several other global health initiatives and United Nations institutions.
Others, like US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have suggested Mr Trump is attempting to deflect blame from his administration's response to the pandemic in the US, where more than 630,000 people have been infected and more than 30,000 have died.
"This decision is dangerous, illegal and will be swiftly challenged," she said.
Dr Youde said there were still many unknowns about what form the funding freeze would take.
Stay up-to-date on the coronavirus outbreak
"Will it be all funds that the US gives to the WHO? Just the assessed contribution? Just the voluntary contributions? There are also questions about the president's authority to do this," he said.
"Depending on how this funding freeze gets implemented, it could have a fairly immediate budgetary effect on the WHO," he said.
"Even more importantly, though, it signals that the US is seemingly no longer interested in maintaining its leadership role within the global governance of health."
The withdrawal would create a power vacuum, he said.
By Erin Handley and Michael Walsh
Posted 43 minutes ago
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.
VIDEO: The US gives the most money to the WHO, but Donald Trump wants to freeze those funds. (ABC News)
RELATED STORY: Pelosi threatens challenge, leads global condemnation over Trump's WHO funding freeze
RELATED STORY: Trump says US will halt funding to WHO over handling of coronavirus pandemic
RELATED STORY: Trump says he likes top doctor a day after retweeting #FireFauci
US President Donald Trump has threatened to halt funds to the UN's World Health Organisation (WHO).
While we don't yet know what form the funding freeze could take, or even if Mr Trump has the authority to withdraw, experts fear cutting out a large chunk of the WHO's funding could have disastrous effects on the world's most vulnerable countries.
The WHO has been criticised for its response to the pandemic, but what are the ripple effects of defunding it?
Firstly, how is the WHO funded?
PHOTO: WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the group was still assessing how their programs will be affected. (Reuters: Denis Balibouse)The US is by far the WHO's biggest donor, giving almost $US900 million ($1.4 billion) to the WHO's budget for 2018 and 2019, according to information on the agency's website.
There are two funding streams: assessed contributions, and voluntary contributions.
Assessed contributions are what countries pay in order to be a member of the organisation — the WHO has 194 member states across the world.
Explained: The story of the WHO
It's long been the preeminent international health organisation, but questions have been asked about its response to several infectious diseases. Radio National's Rear Vision podcast looks at the story of the WHO.
The payment is calculated based on the country's wealth and population, which is why countries like the US pay more than lower-income countries.
Dr Davies said that budget is for operational purposes at headquarters, including costs like wages and flights, but several states have not paid their dues.
For several years now, the WHO says, these assessed contributions have made up less than a quarter of the WHO's financing.
The other three-quarters come from voluntary contributions, which can be flexible or earmarked for specific projects.
The US is by far the biggest donor to that, making up 15 per cent of the total voluntary contributions.
EMBED: Here's how the funding contributions of different countries compare.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is the second-largest voluntary donor, contributing 9.8 per cent. Australia contributes 0.75 per cent, while China gives 0.21 per cent.
The WHO has a proposed budget of $7.5 billion ($US4.8 billion) for 2020–21.
So, how will a funding cut impact poorer nations?
PHOTO: Countries with weaker health systems and lower income countries could be affected if the US pulled the plug. (Reuters: Adnan Abidi)WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was asked directly about the shortfall a potential US withdrawal would create, and how it would impact the WHO.
Dr Tedros did not respond with a dollar amount, saying the group was still assessing how their programs will be affected.
The next red zones
As coronavirus spreads around the globe, health experts and aid groups fear some of the world's most vulnerable countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific could become new hotspots for COVID-19.
"We will work with partners to fill any gaps and ensure our work continues uninterrupted," he said. "We will get back to you after our assessment is completed."
Karol Sikora, chief medical officer at Rutherford Health and former head of the WHO's cancer program, said countries with weaker health systems and lower-income countries stood to lose out if the US pulled the plug.
"If you withdraw funding, as Trump is suggesting, all that will happen is the poor people will suffer disproportionately around the world because they're the ones that gain the most from the WHO," he told the ABC.
Dr Sara Davies, an expert in global health governance at Griffith University, said if the cuts go ahead, "we will see the WHO have to make tough decisions about which programs it can continue".
Professor Adrian Bauman, co-director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Physical Activity, Nutrition & Obesity at the University of Sydney, told RN Breakfast a US withdrawal would be "immediately disastrous".
PHOTO: Vulnerable countries in the Pacific will likely be affected by any funding cut. (WHO Western Pacific)There are 50 WHO Collaborating Centres based in Australia and more than 800 globally, which help support the WHO's health programmes around the world.
Professor Bauman said cuts to US funding would affect the work they do, including in extremely vulnerable regions like the Pacific.
"There won't be the support of overarching infrastructure to help contain this epidemic, or to help immunisation programs. We had the huge measles epidemic in the Pacific recently.
"Those kinds of things will be resurgent, and that will be a global health disaster: and the US won't benefit from that either, because the epidemic will be prolonged, the economic downturn will be bad for the US too, and the US will lose trust and leadership."
Apart from declaring pandemics, what does the WHO do?
PHOTO: Part of the WHO's work includes vaccinating against diseases like polio, measles and cholera. (Reuters: Jorge Silva)The body's mission is to "promote health, keep the world safe, serve the vulnerable".
The WHO has a triple-billion target — 1 billion people benefiting from universal health coverage, 1 billion more people better protected from health emergencies, and 1 billion more people having better health and wellbeing.
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
- Can I go for a drive during coronavirus?
- Is coronavirus airborne?
- What are the symptoms of coronavirus?
The WHO says "hitting the triple-billion targets would result in 30 million lives saved, 100 million healthy life-years improved and 2–4 per cent economic growth in low and middle-income countries" by 2023.
The majority of the WHO's work is centred on Africa and the Middle East, with eradicating polio a key focus of the group.
More than 67 per cent of funds are focused on Africa and the Middle East, and more than a quarter — 26 per cent — goes towards eradicating polio.
Around 12 per cent goes towards increasing access to essential health and nutrition services, while around 9 per cent goes towards vaccine-preventable diseases.
Is the WHO beholden to China?
PHOTO: The WHO has come under strident criticism for advising against travel bans on China. (AP: Kin Cheung)The WHO has been criticised for not declaring the outbreak a pandemic sooner, and for advising against travel bans on China. Professor Sikora said those decisions have since proved to be big mistakes.
Taiwan has also accused the WHO of suppressing information about the country's coronavirus prevention measures. Taiwan is not a member of the WHO, which is only open to UN members (Taiwan was voted out of the UN in 1971 in favour of China).
"The WHO is facing so much criticism because of the efforts it went to ensure that, in the early stages, China provided as much information as possible," Dr Davies said. "The WHO is in a very difficult position."
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
- Trump's doing what he does best: picking fights with his perceived enemies. But it's the WHO's opposition to travel bans that have upset Mr Trump the most
- If someone is infected with COVID-19, then the app will be used to notify those who they have been in contact with
Global health politics researcher Jeremy Youde from the University of Minnesota Duluth said, "it's not accurate to say that the WHO is beholden to China".
Coronavirus questions answered
Breaking down the latest news and research to understand how the world is living through an epidemic, this is the ABC's Coronacast podcast.
"There has been criticism of his praise for China, and I understand that, but the WHO is limited in its ability to encourage states to cooperate with it.
"It can't impose fines or threaten to invade; it needs to try and persuade."
He said the WHO had to weigh up how best to engage with China at a time when public health and geopolitics intersect.
'More transparency' — Does the WHO need reform?
"The WHO does need reform. Everybody knows that," Professor Sikora said.
But he said it's the best organisation to deal with global health and help nations strategise — so rather than scrapping it, it should be improved.
He said the WHO was plagued by bureaucratic hang-ups.
"If it means firing top management, let's do that," he said.
"It's top-heavy. It concentrates on the diplomatic life, the cycle of embassy parties … there's a lot that could be changed."
PHOTO: Dr Davies said there will need to be an independent review on the WHO's response to COVID-19. (Reuters)Dr Davies said there will need to be an independent review of the WHO's response to COVID-19, after reviews were held to investigate its adherence to procedure during the H1N1 pandemic and the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
She said this would help "clear the air" and clarify whether the WHO Director-General and others in senior leadership had followed international health regulations.
"This has been recommended since the time of H1N1 and I think COVID-19 has shown why transparency matters."
What happens now?
PHOTO: Donald Trump's announcement has been widely panned by health, humanitarian and charity groups. (Reuters: Leah Millis )Despite some criticism of the WHO's handling of the crisis, many say threatening to cut funds during the biggest pandemic since the Spanish Flu is the wrong approach — including Bill and Melinda Gates, whose foundation is a major voluntary donor to the WHO.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has now announced an extra $US150 million ($238.6 million) to help speed up the development of treatments, vaccines and public health measures to tackle coronavirus.
Bill Gates
✔@BillGates
https://twitter.com/BillGates/status/1250292126643941376
Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds. Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them. The world needs @WHO now more than ever.
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Mr Trump's decision was "a crime against humanity" and a "betrayal of global solidarity", according to Richard Horton, the editor-in-chief of the Lancet medical journal.
Humanitarian group CARE said abandoning the WHO in this time of crisis "will only put more lives at risk".
Asked about the Trump administration's announcement, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the ABC this morning that Australia would continue to support the WHO, given its positive track record in the Pacific region.
However, he also accused the WHO of making "significant mistakes" during the outbreak, saying the body was slow to declare the virus a pandemic, made the wrong calls when it told countries not to close their national borders and expressed support for wet markets.
PHOTO: Humanitarian group CARE said that abandoning the WHO in this time of crisis "will only put more lives at risk". (AAP: Costfoto/Sipa USA)Dr Davies and Dr Youde pointed out Mr Trump has sought cuts to several other global health initiatives and United Nations institutions.
Others, like US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have suggested Mr Trump is attempting to deflect blame from his administration's response to the pandemic in the US, where more than 630,000 people have been infected and more than 30,000 have died.
"This decision is dangerous, illegal and will be swiftly challenged," she said.
Dr Youde said there were still many unknowns about what form the funding freeze would take.
Stay up-to-date on the coronavirus outbreak
- Download the ABC News app and subscribe to our range of news alerts for the latest on how the pandemic is impacting the world
- You can also get up-to-date information on the Federal Government's Coronavirus Australia app, available on the App Store, Google Play and the Government's WhatsApp channel.
"Will it be all funds that the US gives to the WHO? Just the assessed contribution? Just the voluntary contributions? There are also questions about the president's authority to do this," he said.
"Depending on how this funding freeze gets implemented, it could have a fairly immediate budgetary effect on the WHO," he said.
"Even more importantly, though, it signals that the US is seemingly no longer interested in maintaining its leadership role within the global governance of health."
The withdrawal would create a power vacuum, he said.
"You're going to have a greater ability to influence the direction of the WHO from the inside rather than by standing on the sidelines."
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World Health Organisation regrets Donald Trump's funding halt over coronavirus pandemic, Pelosi threatens challenge
Updated about 7 hours ago
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.
VIDEO: Mr Trump criticised the WHO's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. (ABC News)
RELATED STORY: Why does Trump say the World Health Organisation 'blew it' on coronavirus?
RELATED STORY: The WHO can only act on what it knows. That's why COVID-19 is so frightening
RELATED STORY: WHO appeals for $1.5 billion in funding for COVID-19 battle
The head of the World Health Organisation says he regrets US President Donald Trump's decision to pull funding from the agency and has called for the world to pull together.
Key Points:
"The United States of America has been a long-standing and generous friend of the WHO and we hope it will continue to be so," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference.
"We regret the decision of the President of the United States to order a halt in the funding to the WHO."
The comments came after Mr Trump's move to halt funding to the WHO over its handling of the pandemic.
The US is the largest donor to the WHO, providing more than $US400 million ($631 million) in 2019, roughly 15 per cent of its budget.
"WHO is reviewing the impact on our work of any withdrawal of US funding and we will work with partners to fill any gaps and ensure our work continues uninterrupted," Dr Tedros added.
Dr Mike Ryan, WHO's top emergencies expert, said there would be opportunities in coming weeks and months to discuss WHO's budget with its other 193 states.
Mr Trump's decision also drew the ire of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday.
PHOTO: Nancy Pelosi has once again been critical of Donald Trump. (Pool)
"The President's halting of funding to the WHO as it leads the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic is senseless," Ms Pelosi said in a statement.
"But sadly, as he has since day one, the President is ignoring global health experts, disregarding science and undermining the heroes fighting on the frontline, at great risk to the lives and livelihoods of Americans and people around the world."
Stay up-to-date on the coronavirus outbreak
Condemnation from around the world
Ms Pelosi was not the only one to go on the attack over Mr Trump's decision as figures from Johns Hopkins University showed COVID-19 infections passed 2 million and the disease had killed over 128,000 people.
The European Union on Wednesday said Trump had "no reason" to freeze WHO funding at this critical stage and called for measures to promote unity instead of division.
Coronavirus questions answered
Breaking down the latest news and research to understand how the world is living through an epidemic, this is the ABC's Coronacast podcast.
Trudie Lang, a professor of global health research at Oxford University, said attempts to hinder WHO's work could have significant consequences for the pandemic response.
"The reason we're making such fast progress on diagnostics, vaccines and drugs is because of WHO's role as a neutral broker," she said.
Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas pushed back against Mr Trump's rhetoric.
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
The Netherlands also threw its support behind the WHO.
"Now is not the time to hold back funding. Once the pandemic is under control, lessons can be learned. For now, focus on overcoming this crisis," Sigrid Kaag, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, said on Twitter.
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the country was "seriously concerned" about the US Government's decision to suspend funding.
And Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned against politicising the issue and said he believed WHO had "acted effectively" in its handling of the pandemic.
Earlier Bill Gates, whose foundation was the second-largest donor to the WHO for its latest two-year budget, contributing over $US530 million ($836 million) in 2018 and 2019, wrote that stopping funding for WHO during a world health crisis "is as dangerous as it sounds".
141K people are talking about this
"Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organisation can replace them. The world needs WHO now more than ever," Mr Gates wrote.
Updated about 7 hours ago
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume.
VIDEO: Mr Trump criticised the WHO's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. (ABC News)
RELATED STORY: Why does Trump say the World Health Organisation 'blew it' on coronavirus?
RELATED STORY: The WHO can only act on what it knows. That's why COVID-19 is so frightening
RELATED STORY: WHO appeals for $1.5 billion in funding for COVID-19 battle
The head of the World Health Organisation says he regrets US President Donald Trump's decision to pull funding from the agency and has called for the world to pull together.
Key Points:
- US President Donald Trump announced this week that the US would cease funding the World Health Organisation
- The head of the WHO responded with regret at the move and called for world unity in the face of the pandemic
- Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi says Mr Trump's decision will be challenged
"The United States of America has been a long-standing and generous friend of the WHO and we hope it will continue to be so," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference.
"We regret the decision of the President of the United States to order a halt in the funding to the WHO."
The comments came after Mr Trump's move to halt funding to the WHO over its handling of the pandemic.
The US is the largest donor to the WHO, providing more than $US400 million ($631 million) in 2019, roughly 15 per cent of its budget.
"WHO is reviewing the impact on our work of any withdrawal of US funding and we will work with partners to fill any gaps and ensure our work continues uninterrupted," Dr Tedros added.
Dr Mike Ryan, WHO's top emergencies expert, said there would be opportunities in coming weeks and months to discuss WHO's budget with its other 193 states.
Coronavirus update: Follow the latest news in our daily wrap.
Mr Trump's decision also drew the ire of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday.
PHOTO: Nancy Pelosi has once again been critical of Donald Trump. (Pool)"The President's halting of funding to the WHO as it leads the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic is senseless," Ms Pelosi said in a statement.
"We can only be successful in defeating this global pandemic through a coordinated international response with respect for science and data.
"But sadly, as he has since day one, the President is ignoring global health experts, disregarding science and undermining the heroes fighting on the frontline, at great risk to the lives and livelihoods of Americans and people around the world."
Stay up-to-date on the coronavirus outbreak
- Download the ABC News app and subscribe to our range of news alerts for the latest on how the pandemic is impacting the world
- You can also get up-to-date information on the Federal Government's Coronavirus Australia app, available on the App Store, Google Play and the Government's WhatsApp channel.
Condemnation from around the world
Ms Pelosi was not the only one to go on the attack over Mr Trump's decision as figures from Johns Hopkins University showed COVID-19 infections passed 2 million and the disease had killed over 128,000 people.
The European Union on Wednesday said Trump had "no reason" to freeze WHO funding at this critical stage and called for measures to promote unity instead of division.
Coronavirus questions answered
Breaking down the latest news and research to understand how the world is living through an epidemic, this is the ABC's Coronacast podcast.
Trudie Lang, a professor of global health research at Oxford University, said attempts to hinder WHO's work could have significant consequences for the pandemic response.
"The reason we're making such fast progress on diagnostics, vaccines and drugs is because of WHO's role as a neutral broker," she said.
Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas pushed back against Mr Trump's rhetoric.
"The virus knows no borders. We must work closely against COVID-19."
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
- Can I go for a drive during coronavirus?
- Is coronavirus airborne?
- What are the symptoms of coronavirus?
The Netherlands also threw its support behind the WHO.
"Now is not the time to hold back funding. Once the pandemic is under control, lessons can be learned. For now, focus on overcoming this crisis," Sigrid Kaag, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, said on Twitter.
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
- Trump's doing what he does best: picking fights with his perceived enemies. But it's the WHO's opposition to travel bans that have upset Mr Trump the most
- If someone is infected with COVID-19, then the app will be used to notify those who they have been in contact with
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the country was "seriously concerned" about the US Government's decision to suspend funding.
And Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned against politicising the issue and said he believed WHO had "acted effectively" in its handling of the pandemic.
Earlier Bill Gates, whose foundation was the second-largest donor to the WHO for its latest two-year budget, contributing over $US530 million ($836 million) in 2018 and 2019, wrote that stopping funding for WHO during a world health crisis "is as dangerous as it sounds".
Bill Gates
✔@BillGates
https://twitter.com/BillGates/status/1250292126643941376
Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds. Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them. The world needs @WHO now more than ever.
320K
1:17 PM - Apr 15, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy
141K people are talking about this
"Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organisation can replace them. The world needs WHO now more than ever," Mr Gates wrote.
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China will fund but under one condition.
The HQ relocation.from Geneva to wuhan.
The HQ relocation.from Geneva to wuhan.
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The CCP will up contribution if they know the can influence international agencies. CCP acknowledged that international rules and regulations were set by the west in the past 150years. That why CCP setup another Asian bank to bypass Japan and USA. The OBOR also whichever countries want to join, all must adhere to CCP R&Rs. CCP want to flex muscle but not military but monetary.
CCP knew nuclear route not viable as PLA second artillery forces just a fraction of what the US and Russki have. They also not interested in being ruler of a giant car park. Main thing is that nuclear weapons only burn money with no monetary return.
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