Geneva – SABA:
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on Tuesday that the cut in U.S. funding has left the UN agency with a massive budget gap, forcing it to scale back operations and lay off staff.
Speaking to the organization's member states in his opening remarks, Tedros stated: "The United States’ refusal to pay its assessed contributions for 2024 and 2025, along with cuts in official development assistance from other countries, means we face a salary funding gap of between $560 million and $650 million for the 2026–2027 period."
The WHO is now facing a $2.5 billion deficit in its already reduced 2026–2027 budget, following the U.S. withdrawal of funding.
After President Donald Trump announced the suspension of U.S. funding to the WHO, the organization gradually reduced its 2026–2027 budget from $5.3 billion to $4.2 billion.
However, this reduction was insufficient, and the budget still suffers from a $1.9 billion shortfall.
The United States had been the largest contributor to the UN health agency — by far the biggest among donor countries.
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