WHO: The Reasons for America's Withdrawal Are "Incorrect"

SadaNews - The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that the reasons provided by the United States for withdrawing from the international organization are "incorrect".

Tedros mentioned in a post on "X": "As a founding member of the World Health Organization, the United States has significantly contributed to many of the organization's greatest achievements, including the eradication of smallpox. The World Health Organization has always dealt with the United States, and with all member states, with full respect for their sovereignty."

He added: "Unfortunately, the reasons cited for the U.S. decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization are incorrect. The withdrawal notification makes the United States and the world less safe."

In an extended statement, the World Health Organization responded in detail to the accusations made by President Donald Trump's administration, following the official withdrawal of the United States from the body earlier this week, after a year of announcing it.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy wrote, among other things, that the World Health Organization "stained and shattered everything America has done for it" and cited as an example that it "refuses to hand over the American flag that was hanging in front of it."

Rubio and Kennedy later stated that the flag has now returned to U.S. possession.

The World Health Organization responded by saying that "the opposite is true. As we do with every member state, the World Health Organization has always sought to deal with the United States in good faith, with full respect for its sovereignty."

The World Health Organization also rejected the U.S. accusation that it "hindered the timely and accurate exchange of vital information during the COVID-19 pandemic."

It noted that in early January 2020, it informed governments through all channels about a cluster of (unknown cause pneumonia) cases in China and urged them to take precautions.

On January 30, it declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, which is the highest level of alert, when there were fewer than 100 COVID-19 cases and no deaths had occurred outside of China.

The World Health Organization emphasized that it hopes "the United States will return to active participation in the World Health Organization in the future."