No Time to Cut World Health Organization Funding, Secretary-General Stresses, as Member States Battle against Vast COVID-19 Impact

The following statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres was issued today:

As I said on 8 April:  “The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most dangerous challenges this world has faced in our lifetime.  It is above all a human crisis with severe health and socioeconomic consequences.  The World Health Organization (WHO), with thousands of its staff, is on the front lines, supporting Member States and their societies, especially the most vulnerable among them, with guidance, training, equipment and concrete life-saving services as they fight the virus.

“It is my belief that the World Health Organization must be supported, as it is absolutely critical to the world’s efforts to win the war against COVID-19.  This virus is unprecedented in our lifetime and requires an unprecedented response.  Obviously, in such conditions, it is possible that the same facts have had different readings by different entities.  Once we have finally turned the page on this epidemic, there must be a time to look back fully to understand how such a disease emerged and spread its devastation so quickly across the globe, and how all those involved reacted to the crisis.  The lessons learned will be essential to effectively address similar challenges, as they may arise in the future.  But, now is not that time.”

As it is not that time, it is also not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus.

As I have said before, now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences.