WASHINGTON, May 30 - President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will terminate its relationship with the World Health Organization, saying it had failed to undertake greatly needed reforms, and �misled� the world about the coronavirus when it emerged in China.
Trump has accused the WHO of failing to hold Beijing to account over the coronavirus pandemic.
�China has total control over the World Health Organization,� he said on Friday while announcing measures aimed at punishing China.
�Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will be today terminating our relationship with the World Health Organization and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving, urgent global public health needs,� Trump said.
The President said that the �world needs answers from China on the virus. We must have transparency.� He said China had �instigated a global pandemic that has cost over 100,000 American lives.� He also accused China of pressurizing the WHO to �mislead the world� about the virus.
Trump, who is seeking re-election in November, has been criticised for his own handling of the pandemic. He has blamed China for trying to cover up the coronavirus outbreak. China has rejected the US allegations and asked American politicians not to use the pandemic for political purposes.
The US is the biggest funder of the global health body, paying about USD 450 million in membership dues and voluntary contributions for specific programmes.
Meanwhile, the European Union on Saturday urged Trump to rethink his decision to cut American funding for WHO amid global criticism of the move, as spiking infection rates in India and elsewhere served as a reminder the pandemic is far from contained. � Agencies
