The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a detailed statement regretting the United States decision to leave the UN agency, and declaring that it will leave both the US and the world less safe as a result.
The statement, released on Saturday, also includes a rebuttal of the US administration's reasoning for the measures. In response to government statements that the WHO has "trashed and tarnished" and insulted it, and compromised its independence, the agency notes that "the reverse true," and that the WHO has always sought to "engage with the United States in good faith, with full respect for its sovereignty."
The accusation by the US administration that the WHO has "pursued a politicized, bureaucratic agenda driven by nations hostile to American interests" is countered and described as untrue. The agency, the statement reads "has always been and remains impartial and exists to serve all countries, with respect for their sovereignty, and without fear or favour."
Defence of COVID-19 response
A significant portion of the statement is dedicated to defending the WHO against US accusations of "failures" during the COVID-19 pandemic: according to the administration, the WHO obstructed the "timely and accurate sharing of critical information" and "concealed those failures".
The agency counters this by noting that, throughout the pandemic, it acted quickly, shared all information it had rapidly and transparently with the world, and advised Member States on the basis of the best available evidence.
WHO recommended the use of masks, vaccines and physical distancing, but at no stage recommended mask mandates, vaccine mandates or lockdowns.
