EU urges Trump not to cut funding for WHO as health experts blast decision
The EU has urged Donald Trump to rethink his decision to cut US funding for the World Health Organisation amid global criticism of the move.
With spiking coronavirus infection rates in India and elsewhere serving as a reminder the global pandemic is far from contained, Trump claimed the WHO had not responded adequately to the pandemic.
The American president also accused the UN’s health agency of being under China’s “total control”.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has urged Trump to reconsider, saying “actions that weaken international results must be avoided” and “now is the time for enhanced cooperation”.
America is the largest source of financial support for the WHO and its exit is expected to signif icantly weaken the organisation. Trump said the US would be “redirecting” the money to “other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs”.
South African health minister Zwel i Mkhize cal led it an “unfortunate” turn of events.
Close to six million Covid-19 infections have been reported worldwide, with more than 365,000 deaths and almost 2.5million recoveries, according to Johns Hopkins University.
But in China, where the virus outbreak began, only four new cases were reported yesterday, all brought from outside the country, and no new deaths.
In South Korea, there were 39 new cases reported yesterday.
India had another record single-day jump of 7964 cases and 265 deaths. That put total cases at 173,763, with 4971 deaths.
The national coronavirus task force said 4555 Russians have died of Covid-19, with 396,575 infections recorded.
The US has been worst hit, with more than 1.7million cases and almost 103,000 deaths.