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WHO accused of being ‘pro-China’ by its biggest Western influencers and funders

WESTERN politicians have accused the World Health Organisation (WHO) of being “pro-China,” but new analysis shows that its recent critics are also among its biggest funders and influencers. 

In recent weeks British and US rightwingers have attempted to discredit the United Nations agency after it accused both countries of failing to act fast enough to contain the spread of coronavirus. 

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump went so far as to threaten to withdraw funding from the organisation, accusing it of mishandling the pandemic and being “very China-centric.” 

Senior British Tory Iain Duncan Smith has also accused the WHO of “having a go” at Western governments while giving China “quiet praise.” 

But an article published today by investigative website Declassified UK suggests that these charges are unfounded. 

Looking at the WHO workforce, the article shows that half of the 20 most senior staff are from the US or European countries, while just one is from China. 

Britain’s David Nabarro is also one of the six special Covid-19 envoys appointed by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in February.

Dr Nabarro was nominated to lead the WHO in 2016, receiving endorsement from Boris Johnson, Jeremy Hunt and Priti Patel.

Another senior appointment is former Tory Health Minister Jane Ellison, who as an executive director has the power to sign agreements with donors and allocate budgets.

The US also tops the list of WHO donors by a huge margin, followed by Britain and Germany when both voluntary and mandatory donations are taken into account, according to Declassified.

Instead, Declassified suggests that rightwingers’ criticism of the WHO is intended to “deflect attention away from Trump and Mr Johnson’s own handling of the pandemic towards a more traditional enemy — the Chinese Communist Party.”

The WHO urged the Trump administration on Wednesday to stop “politicising” the virus crisis. 

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