UN agencies in their response on Tuesday highlighted the potential negative impact of the US order on public health and efforts to curb global warming.
“The WHO regrets the announcement that the United States intends to withdraw from the World Health Organization… We “hope the United States will reconsider.”
Under this executive order, America’s participation in the WHO will end within 12 months.
It is worth noting that the United States joined the WHO in 1948 after a joint resolution was passed by both houses of the US Parliament and Congress.
According to that proposal, the country will have to give a one-year notice to leave the organization.
WHO’s contribution to better global health
President Donald Trump moved to withdraw from the WHO in 2020 during his first term — but President Joe Biden’s administration has reversed that move.
On Tuesday, WHO spokesman Tarek Yasarevic, in response to questions from reporters in Geneva, stressed that the World Health Organization responds to disease outbreaks by “focusing on the root causes of disease, building strong health systems and often in vulnerable places” by identifying health emergencies and taking measures to prevent them. plays an important role in protecting the health and safety of people around the world, including the American people. “Even in areas other people can’t reach.”
Asked about the impact of the US withdrawal from the WHO, Tarek Yasarevich said he saw the executive order “like everyone else this morning” and that further analysis would be needed.
He confirmed that the United States is the World Health Organization’s largest donor country, providing 18 percent of the United Nations Health Organization’s budget in 2023.
Also in Geneva, U.N. Office of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) spokesman Jans Lark highlighted the importance of the U.N. health agency, saying “the world is longer and healthier and perhaps much happier.”
“WHO can go where others can’t,” said Yance Lark, including in Gaza, Yemen, Afghanistan and Sudan.
“It (WHO) is an essential part of the international humanitarian system,” he stressed.
Climate shock
Responding to US President Donald Trump’s intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) spokeswoman Claire Nullis said the need to honor the Paris climate accord was “absolutely clear”.
He said 2024 was set to be the “warmest year on record”, about 1.55 degrees Celsius higher than the pre-industrial era. “This is the defining challenge of our time.”
The WMO spokesperson also said that in the wake of the recent devastating and deadly wildfires in Los Angeles, the United States has borne the lion’s share of global economic losses from weather, climate and water-related threats.
“The United States has experienced 403 weather and climate disasters since 1980, with total damages/costs reaching or exceeding one billion dollars,” said World Meteorological Organization (WMO) spokeswoman Claire Nullis.
“According to US statistics, the total cost of these 403 incidents exceeded $2.915 trillion.”
America is in a leadership position
The comments came on Monday, as the UN spokesperson’s office also responded to reporters’ questions by saying that “the transition envisioned in the Paris Agreement is already happening”, and that a renewable “energy revolution” will be key to jobs and prosperity. providing opportunities.
“The Secretary General is confident that cities, states, and businesses within the United States, along with other countries, will continue to demonstrate foresight and leadership in working toward low-carbon, sustainable economic growth,” the spokesperson said.
It will create quality jobs and markets for 21st century prosperity.
“It is important that the United States maintains a leadership position on environmental issues,” the spokesperson’s statement added.