Home Folkestone News Article
Coronavirus Kent: MP Damian Collins criticises Donald Trump's decision to cut funding to the WHO
10:00, 15 April 2020
updated: 10:19, 15 April 2020
A Kent MP has blasted Donald Trump's decision to cut funding to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Damian Collins, who represents Folkestone and Hythe, has accused the US President of trying to "discredit" the "important" UN agency, which is responsible for global public health.
It comes after Mr Trump announced he is going to halt funding to the WHO because it has "failed in its basic duty" in its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
He also accused the agency of mismanaging and covering up the spread of the virus, and said it must be held accountable.
During a news conference at the White House, he said: "I am directing my administration to halt funding while a review is conducted to assess the WHO's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus."
It is understood the US is WHO's biggest single funder and provides between $400-500m a year.
Now, Mr Collins has taken to Twitter to explain why it is important to support the WHO.
He said: "Donald Trump is stopping funding for the WHO over its advice on Covid-19.
"In doing so he’s trying to discredit this important body, which shows why now more than ever we need strong independent voices that tell us what we need to hear even if governments don’t like it."
Similarly, António Guterres, the UN secretary general, said now is “not the time" to reduce resources for the WHO.
It is understood Mr Trump will halt payments for a period while he reviews the WHO's role.
In the UK, the death toll from Covid-19 now stands at 12,107 but across the globe more than 120,000 people have died.
The US has the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths worldwide.
