United Countries, United States: By the end of the month, after reversing Donald Trump's decision to withdraw, the United States will pay more than $200 million to the World Health Organization, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday.
The number amounts to the commitments made by the United States to the worldwide health organization to which it was the biggest donor.
"This is a key step forward in fulfilling our financial obligations as a WHO member and it reflects our renewed commitment to ensuring the WHO has the support it needs to lead the global response to the pandemic," Blinken told a virtual UN Security Council session on Covid-19.
"The United States will work as a partner to address global challenges. This pandemic is one of those challenges and gives us an opportunity not only to get through the current crisis, but also to become more prepared and more resilient for the future."
Blinken said Covax, a global initiative to deliver vaccines to the poorest countries, would also be "provide significant financial support" by the United States.
In Geneva, the WHO welcomed Blinken's declaration, saying that by "responding not only to the Covid-19 pandemic but also other health emergencies around the world." funds will help its target of improving the health of billions by 2023.
Trump declared a pullout from the World Health Organization, claiming it was beholden to China and did not do enough to combat the pandemic, facing backlash for his treatment of Covid in the United States, which has experienced the highest recorded deaths of any country.
President Joe Biden immediately reversed the decision upon coming into office, although his administration has also pressed China to be more forthcoming to a WHO team investigating the origins of the devastating virus.
"All countries must make available all data from the earliest days of any outbreak," Blinken said.
"And going forward, all countries should participate in a transparent and robust process for preventing and responding to health emergencies so the world learns as much as possible, as soon as possible."
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