France, Germany strengthen financial, political support for WHO

SANAA, June 26 (YPA) – France and Germany on Thursday expressed their political and financial support to the World Health Organization (WHO) in its efforts to contain the outbreak of the Corona virus, and Germany said it would contribute a record amount of half a billion euros this year.
In Geneva, WHO Director-General Tidros Adhanom Gebresos said at a press conference that the organization, which the United States criticized and said that its response to the pandemic had been slow, was getting all the financial and political support it needed.

US President Donald Trump said last month that his country would cut ties with the “Chinese-centric” World Health Organization, he said, but he has yet to officially inform the UN agency.

The United States is the largest contributor to the Geneva-based health organization, providing more than $ 400 million in 2019, about 15 percent of its budget.

German Health Minister Jens Young said the 500 million euros (561 million dollars) is “the largest amount we have ever donated” to the health organization.

“We need a strong, transparent and accountable health organization today more than ever, a health organization that leads and coordinates global response efforts.”

France has said it will provide 90 million euros to a WHO research center in Lyon, in addition to a contribution of 50 million euros.

“I really believe that the world needs more than ever before a multinational organization, I believe that the world cannot get rid of partners,” said French Health Minister Olivier Ferrand.

Ferrand added, “We need global engagement (with Covid-19), and only WHO can do that. ”

Covid-19 infections have been recorded in more than 210 countries and regions since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

A Reuters count indicates that more than 9.44 million people have been infected with the virus worldwide and 48,1672 have died so far.