China said on Thursday it would donate a further $30 million to the World Health Organization (WHO), which is seeking more than $1 billion to fund its battle against the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 180,000 people worldwide.
The pledge comes about a week after US President Donald Trump suspended funding to the WHO and accused the Geneva-based organization of promoting Chinese “disinformation” about the virus, which emerged in the central city of Wuhan last year.
For more on coronavirus, visit our dedicated section.
“At this crucial moment, supporting WHO is supporting multilateralism and global solidarity,” Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman of China’s foreign ministry, said on Twitter.
The donation aimed to support the global fight against COVID-19, in particular strengthening health systems in developing countries, she said, adding that China had already donated $20 million to the WHO on March 11.
On Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he hoped the Trump administration would reconsider its decision.
“I hope the US believes that this an important investment, not just to help others, but for the US to stay safe also,” Tedros said during a virtual briefing.
The United States contributed more than $400 million to the WHO in 2019, or roughly 15 percent of the organization’s budget.
Read more:
Coronavirus: Dubai to allow Ramadan family gatherings, exercise outdoors
Coronavirus will change UAE education, work in the future: Health official
Coronavirus: World faces ‘hunger pandemic’ which could kill 300,000 per day, warns UN
Also Read
-
In first in the US: Two cats test positive for coronavirus
Two pet cats have been confirmed as suffering from SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, the CDC announced on Wednesday (April 22). More here. Reports -
Two migrants in Greece shot after breaking coronavirus quarantine
Two asylum-seekers on the Greek island of Lesbos were shot and injured after apparently violating coronavirus quarantine rules, officials said ... Coronavirus -
CDC says second wave of coronavirus in winter could hit US harder than outbreak now
Robert Redfield, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, said Tuesday that while the US might appear to ... Coronavirus
