The Temporary Suspension Of WHO Funding By The US Impacts On The Gaza Strip

WHO illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Guilhem Vellut)

JAKARTA - The move by the administration of United States President Donald Trump to suspend funding for the World Health Organization (WHO), has an impact on freezing USD 46 million for operations in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, an official said on Tuesday.

WHO Representative for the Palestinian Population Area Rik Peeperkorn said the "freezing" would cause six areas of lack of funds, including EMT operations, rehabilitation of health facilities, coordination with partner organizations, and medical evacuation operations, quoted from the Associated Press on February 25.

Speaking from Gaza to reporters at a UN briefing in Geneva, Peeperkorn said money for such operations remained within the WHO funding line and "we are still moving forward with great enthusiasm" with various activities.

Separately, Pull Jasarevic, a WHO spokesman, said he had no figures on how cutting US funds affected his entire operations around the world.

Earlier, WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the United States' move to temporarily suspend foreign aid donations had a serious impact on global health, hitting programs fighting polio, HIV and other threats.

Tedros urged the United States to consider continuing funding aid until a solution can be found.

In addition to the suspension of aid, President Trump also moved to withdraw the United States from WHO on the first day of his second term, which also had an impact on collaboration, particularly in fighting outbreaks and influenza, Tedros said.