US Faces Growing Criticism For WHO Withdrawal
2020-07-09
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1The United States is facing increasing criticism for its withdrawal Monday from the World Health Organization (WHO).
2China denounced the U.S. decision. Foreign ministry official Zhao Lijian said the withdrawal will weaken international efforts to fight the COVID-19 health crisis.
3He added that the damage would especially hurt developing countries where the need for aid is urgent.
4Zhao spoke to reporters Wednesday in Beijing.
5He praised the work of the WHO, describing it as "the most authoritative and professional international" organization dealing with public health security.
6The U.S. withdrawal will not take effect for a year as required by the WHO constitution.
7The U.S. also is required to pay any membership fees it owes the United Nations agency.
8Health officials and opponents to President Donald Trump's administration also criticized the decision to withdraw.
9Presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden said he would cancel the withdrawal on his first day in office if elected in November.
10Americans are safer when the U.S. is involved in worldwide health efforts, Biden said.
11Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, called the withdrawal "an act of true senselessness."
12She wrote in a Twitter message, "With millions of lives at risk, the president is crippling the international effort to defeat the virus."
13For months, Trump has criticized the WHO's effort to deal with COVID-19.
14He accuses the organization of surrendering to Chinese pressure to mislead the public about the disease.
15In April, Trump suspended U.S. financial support for the WHO.
16In May, he said the United States planned to withdraw.
17The president's supporters agree that the WHO has had failings in the COVID-19 crisis.
18But, not all necessarily support Trump's decision to withdraw.
19American lawmaker Lamar Alexander leads the U.S. Senate's health committee.
20In a statement Tuesday, he agreed that the WHO's COVID-19 actions should be examined.
21But he added, "the time to do that is after the crisis has been dealt with, not in the middle of it."
22The U.S. was among the countries that established the World Health Organization in 1948.
23It is its largest donor, as well, providing more than $450 million to the agency every year.
24America leads the world with the most COVID-19 cases - over 3 million, and more than 131,000 deaths.
25U.S. health experts called the president's decision shortsighted and destructive of international cooperation in fighting all diseases.
26Thomas File Jr., president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said the withdrawal leaves the U.S. at greater risk of COVID-19 as it will not be part of international efforts to "develop and access vaccines."
27He said the U.S. would also face greater danger in future pandemics without WHO membership.
28The World Health Organization said it will send a team of experts to China this weekend.
29It said the team would study how the new coronavirus started and made the jump from animals to humans.
30I'm Caty Weaver.
1The United States is facing increasing criticism for its withdrawal Monday from the World Health Organization (WHO). 2China denounced the U.S. decision. Foreign ministry official Zhao Lijian said the withdrawal will weaken international efforts to fight the COVID-19 health crisis. He added that the damage would especially hurt developing countries where the need for aid is urgent. 3Zhao spoke to reporters Wednesday in Beijing. He praised the work of the WHO, describing it as "the most authoritative and professional international" organization dealing with public health security. 4The U.S. withdrawal will not take effect for a year as required by the WHO constitution. The U.S. also is required to pay any membership fees it owes the United Nations agency. 5Health officials and opponents to President Donald Trump's administration also criticized the decision to withdraw. Presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden said he would cancel the withdrawal on his first day in office if elected in November. Americans are safer when the U.S. is involved in worldwide health efforts, Biden said. 6Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, called the withdrawal "an act of true senselessness." She wrote in a Twitter message, "With millions of lives at risk, the president is crippling the international effort to defeat the virus." 7For months, Trump has criticized the WHO's effort to deal with COVID-19. He accuses the organization of surrendering to Chinese pressure to mislead the public about the disease. In April, Trump suspended U.S. financial support for the WHO. In May, he said the United States planned to withdraw. 8The president's supporters agree that the WHO has had failings in the COVID-19 crisis. But, not all necessarily support Trump's decision to withdraw. 9American lawmaker Lamar Alexander leads the U.S. Senate's health committee. In a statement Tuesday, he agreed that the WHO's COVID-19 actions should be examined. But he added, "the time to do that is after the crisis has been dealt with, not in the middle of it." 10The U.S. was among the countries that established the World Health Organization in 1948. It is its largest donor, as well, providing more than $450 million to the agency every year. America leads the world with the most COVID-19 cases - over 3 million, and more than 131,000 deaths. 11U.S. health experts called the president's decision shortsighted and destructive of international cooperation in fighting all diseases. 12Thomas File Jr., president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said the withdrawal leaves the U.S. at greater risk of COVID-19 as it will not be part of international efforts to "develop and access vaccines." He said the U.S. would also face greater danger in future pandemics without WHO membership. 13The World Health Organization said it will send a team of experts to China this weekend. It said the team would study how the new coronavirus started and made the jump from animals to humans. 14I'm Caty Weaver. 15The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 16____________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com.