Coronavirus: G7 seeking WHO review and reform, White House says
- Leaders discuss recovery plans as world seeks way out of pandemic lockdown
- Germany’s Angela Merkel defends UN body, which has come under heavy fire from Trump over handling of outbreak
“G7 leaders agreed to remain committed to taking every necessary measure to ensure a strong and coordinated global response to this health crisis and the associated humanitarian and economic calamity and to launch a strong and sustainable recovery,” the White House said in a statement after a videoconference call between the leaders.
“The leaders recognised that the G7 nations annually contribute more than a billion dollars to the World Health Organization (WHO), and much of the conversation centered on the lack of transparency and chronic mismanagement of the pandemic by the WHO. The leaders called for a thorough review and reform process,” it said.
The UN agency has recently come under heavy fire by US President Donald Trump, who has withheld US funding of the WHO while accusing it of mishandling the coronavirus outbreak. Critics say Trump is looking for scapegoats as the US faces a mounting Covid-19 death toll, with total infections climbing past 600,000 – more than any other country in the world.
