New WHO fund established amid US hints of funding freeze

The World Health Organization (WHO), which has been suggested by the United States to freeze funding, has announced that it has set up a new fund based on donations from individuals and companies.

At a press conference on July 27, WHO announced that it had established a new fund called the WHO Fund. The fund will not come from governments, but from individuals and companies, with the aim of responding more quickly and flexibly to global public health issues such as infectious diseases caused by the new coronavirus.

With regard to the WHO budget, President Trump of the United States, the largest contributor of funds, has criticized the WHO's stance as being "pro-China," and has suggested that it stop contributing funds.

Executive Director Tedros said the establishment of the fund had been under consideration for two years and was not directly related to the U.S. administration's response.