The World Health Organization (WHO) has decided on the first austerity measures after the US announced its withdrawal from the country. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced a widespread hiring freeze in a letter to the workforce.
WHO technical support missions will therefore be cut back and travel costs will be significantly reduced. With a few exceptions, conferences may only take place virtually. The US is currently the largest donor to the WHO.
WHO boss hopes for a reconsideration
US President Donald Trump’s decision worsened the WHO’s “financial situation” and caused “significant concern and uncertainty” among employees, the WHO chief wrote. He regrets the planned US withdrawal and hopes that the new US administration will “reconsider” its decision. “We are open to constructive dialogue to preserve and strengthen the historic relationship between WHO and the US,” Tedros emphasized.
Trump declared during his first term that he was withdrawing from the WHO
Trump ordered the United States by decree on Monday to withdraw from the WHO, immediately after starting his second term. “The World Health Organization defrauded us,” Trump said in justification. The US paid significantly higher contributions to the UN organization than, for example, China.
During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump accused the WHO and its boss Tedros of being too pro-Beijing and thus contributing to the global spread of the virus from China, against the backdrop of the corona pandemic. At that point, Trump froze payments to the WHO and declared the US was withdrawing. However, his successor Joe Biden reversed the move before it formally took effect.
The WHO responded with regret
The WHO had already reacted with regret on Tuesday to Trump’s renewed withdrawal statement. The WHO said it plays an important role in protecting the health and safety of the world’s population, including people in the United States, “by addressing the causes of disease, improving the performance of health care systems and addressing health crises such as diseases detect, prevent or respond to it. outbreaks.”
Against this background, a WHO spokesperson in Geneva on Friday referred to growing fears of a possible pandemic caused by the H5N1 bird flu virus. WHO has already been contacted by concerned people from the US, spokesman Christian Lindmeier said. They therefore fear “that data will no longer be communicated and passed on”. The WHO will ‘protect’ people in the US from health threats. Dozens of people in the US have already been infected with the virus and one person has died.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
