The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has reacted to the US President’s order to his administration to halt funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
DAILY POST recalls that President Donald Trump had on Tuesday said he had instructed his administration to halt funding to the WHO.
According to Trump, WHO had “failed in its basic duty” in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.
Reacting, Faki Mahamat, via his Twitter account on Wednesday, said putting a stop to the funds given to WHO for the fight against COVID-19 at this period is deeply regrettable.
“The USgovt decision to suspend funding to @WHO is deeply regrettable. Today more than ever, the world depends on WHO’s leadership to steer the global #Covid_19 pandemic response.
“Our collective responsibility to ensure WHO can fully carry out its mandate has never been more urgent.”
Also reacting, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said: “This is “not the time” to reduce resources for WHO operations.
“Now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences.”
In the same vein, The European Union’s (EU) foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said the 27-nation bloc “deeply” regrets the suspension of funds and added that WHO is now “needed more than ever” to combat the pandemic.
“Only by joining forces can we overcome this crisis that knows no borders,” Borrell added.
