US TO PAY OVER $200M TO WHO THIS MONTH, REVERSING TRUMP’S DECISION

Thu 18 February 2021:

U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said on Wednesday that the U.S. will meet its obligations to the World Health Organisation (WHO)

The funds, which include assessed and current financial obligations, will be paid by the end of the month, Blinken told the UN Security Council as it discussed the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Today, I’m pleased to confirm that by the end of the month, the United States intends to pay over $200 million in assessed and current obligations to the WHO,” Blinken said at a U.N. Security Council meeting.

“This is a key step forward in fulfilling our financial obligations as a WHO member,” he said. “And it reflects our renewed commitment to ensuring the WHO has the support it needs to lead the global response to the pandemic, even as we work to reform it for the future.”

Additionally, the Biden administration is planning to provide “significant financial support” to the UN’s COVAX vaccine program, Blinken added.

The Trump administration halted funding and moved to withdraw from the organization last year over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak and its alleged pro-China bias. The pulling of funding was significant, as the U.S. accounted for about a quarter of the annual fees the WHO assesses to all its 194 members.

Biden reversed the Trump administration’s policy on his first day in office, saying the U.S. intends to remain a member.

Blinken acknowledged that the organization needs significant reform, but said US support is vital as it plays a key role in fighting the pandemic. He stressed that an upcoming expert report from the WHO on the virus’ origins “must be independent, with findings based on science and facts and free from interference,” in a likely reference to China.

“To better understand this pandemic and prepare for the next one, all countries must make available all data from the earliest days of any outbreak,” he said. “And going forward, all countries should participate in a transparent and robust process for preventing and responding to health emergencies, so the world learns as much as possible as soon as possible.”

However, on Saturday, the administration expressed “deep concerns” about the WHO’s probe into the Chinese handling of the coronavirus in Wuhan.

“We have deep concerns about the way in which the early findings of the COVID-19 investigation were communicated and questions about the process used to reach them,” National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in a lengthy statement. “It is imperative that this report be independent, with expert findings free from intervention or alteration by the Chinese government.”

Sullivan referenced statements by the team that they did not get to see raw data and had to rely on an analysis of the data that was presented to them — and called for China to make it available.