The US decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization amid the COVID-19 pandemic is "disappointing" and "inexplicable," CNBC reported referring to WHO special envoy for COVID-19 Dr. David Nabarro.
"We’ve now got the biggest communicable disease challenge that I’ve ever known, and we really need every single nation working together on it, including the U.S.," Dr. David Nabarro said.
For years, WHO has enjoyed the support and leadership of the US, which has helped the world cope with enormous challenges, Nabarro said.
According to him, it is strange that the US decided to take such a step in the midst of the fight against the pandemic.
"It’s as though you’re in the middle of fighting a forest fire and suddenly 15% of the fire trucks are taken away just at the time when you need them the most,” he added.
The US is the largest donor to the health agency and contributed above $400 million in 2019, or about 15% of the WHO’s annual budget.
According to him, the US departure means it would be up to the remaining 193 countries that still support the WHO to "work out how to plug the gap."
He hopes that the American people will be able to convince Trump to rethink this decision, given Washington's involvement in responding to previous outbreaks such as Ebola, polio, HIV, and smallpox.
On Saturday, the EU issued a statement urging the US to reconsider its decision to leave WHO.
Nabarro said the world is still at the start of the pandemic, and many countries are starting to face huge challenges.
According to him, that calls for all the countries in the world to work together "absolutely in unity" to help people overcome it," otherwise the consequences could be far worse."
“The one thing the general public wants is united efforts by everyone — bringing together the best scientists, the best leaders to work on this issue together,” he noted.
According to him, most countries support global efforts and WHO, because they know that joint action is key in solving this problem.
He noted that after the pandemic, detailed studies and analyzes of actions are expected.
"But we really do ask all of those who are concerned about world health not to do a forensic examination right now, not to withdraw support right now."
