US Accuses UN Health Agency of Deadly Failure in Pandemic

He faulted countries for not heeding WHO's advice about the dangers of the virus and failing to take steps to stop its spread. The UN secretary-general did not point fingers, but he appeared to be alluding to rich European countries and the U.S., which were the first regions to suffer outbreaks outside Asia. Leaders in Europe and the U.S. did not initially take the threat of the virus seriously even after the WHO declared an international health emergency on Jan. 30.

Guterres praised the WHO as “irreplaceable” for its work around the globe in helping developing countries fight infectious diseases, such as Ebola in Congo, and he called on global leaders to spend more on WHO so it can help poorer nations during the pandemic.

“We are as strong as the weakest health systems,” Guterres said. “Protecting the developing world is not a matter of charity or generosity but a question of enlightened self-interest. The global north cannot defeat Covid-19 unless the global south defeats it at the same time.”

In a nod to the finger pointing between the U.S. and China, he said an investigation into the pandemic will need to be done to prevent another pandemic. But he said such a probe needs to take place after the crisis.

There will be a “time to look back fully to understand how such a disease emerged and spread its devastation so quickly across the globe, and how all those involved reacted to the crisis,” Guterres said. “But now is not that time. Now is the time for unity, for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences.”

The Chinese president went along with this tone and talked about “love and compassion,” “working together,” “international cooperation” and helping the poorest nations, such as those in Africa. He said China will help ease customs to free up supply chains, support debt relief for poorer countries and help ensure vaccines against the virus are distributed around the world.

During the pandemic, China has sought to spin a narrative that it is a global force for good as it helps the world combat the virus by sending doctors, supplies, equipment and experts to countries in need. For example, Chinese doctors and experts arrived in Italy shortly after its outbreak began, a move that preceded assistance from the European Union.

But China has also come under fire from a growing number of countries who support the U.S., including those in Europe. China allegedly silenced doctors in Wuhan who were speaking out about the virus. Also, some scientists believe the virus may have emerged from a wet market in Wuhan where wild animals were sold and critics blame China for not doing more to regulate the trade of those animals.

Still, during the assembly, criticism of China, an authoritarian regime ruled by the Chinese Communist Party, has been muted.

French President Emmanuel Macron said this was “a moment for unity and solidarity.”

“We need a strong WHO to tackle Covid-19,” he said.

While facing discontent and political turmoil at home, Macron has become a global face of leadership during the pandemic and he is spearheading efforts to ensure vaccines against Covid-19 are distributed at cheap prices around the world.

He too said an investigation into the pandemic was necessary, but he warned against “unfounded accusations,” an apparent jab against the U.S. and China for floating conspiracy theories about the virus being manufactured at rival labs.

And on it went speaker after speaker: Calls for unity, for sharing resources, for global leadership and moral leadership, for compassion, debt relief for the poorest, caring for the most neglected and vulnerable.

“We have been humbled by this very small microbe,” Tedros, the WHO chief, said. “If this virus is teaching us anything, it is humility.”

He repeated a defense he has been making for weeks that his agency warned the world early about the dangers posed by the virus. He welcomed an investigation into the pandemic and said the world needs to make the world's health systems better prepared for future threats.

“What sort of world do we want? And what sort of WHO do we want? The answer to the first question will determine the answer to the second question,” he said. “Now, more than ever, we need a stronger WHO. There is no other way forward than together.”

As the meeting wore on, some cracks appeared. Iran's health minister blamed the U.S. for making the outbreak in Iran worse by maintaining sanctions on Iran during the pandemic. Australia called for an investigation into wet markets.

Still, it was mostly a feel-good session for the 73rd World Health Assembly at a time of global crisis.

Finally, someone from the United States – the world's foremost superpower – was given the virtual floor. When heads of state spoke at the opening of the assembly, no one from the U.S. was represented. 

Azar appeared in front of a blue background – and the assembly's tone suddenly changed. He launched into his political attack.

“The status quo is intolerable” at WHO, he said, an apparent jab at Tedros, who became the WHO leader with the backing of China.  

He then suggested the organization worked with China “in an apparent attempt to conceal this outbreak.”

He also demanded that Taiwan be allowed to attend the World Health Assembly. China has objected to Taiwan's participation in any UN bodies and it has used its power to keep Taiwan out of the WHO and other UN institutions. Taiwan is involved in expert consultations with the WHO. China stakes a territorial claim to Taiwan. Since the coronavirus outbreak, China and Taiwan have sparred. Taiwanese officials have claimed China hid the outbreak.

“Although we are all focused on the immediate response,” Azar said, “we need a more effective WHO right now to help win this fight and demonstrate to our citizens that we are working to prevent such catastrophes in the future.”

He concluded: “The United States sends our best wishes that open an offer of cooperation to each of you in our shared efforts to defeat this pandemic and to protect the health of each nation around the world.”

That was it. Azar was gone. The U.S. had provided no stirring words of compassion, togetherness, or solidarity, and it made no commitments. It was a brief, but biting, illustration of the very frosty relations between the Trump administration and world institutions.

A silence ensued. The assembly's moderator carried on with the surreal virtual meeting.

“Thank you very much. We will now invite Nigeria, followed by Honduras,” the moderator said, sitting in a near-empty chamber of the WHO. Due to the pandemic, only a few political representatives were in attendance, sitting far away from each other.

“Nigeria you have the floor please ...”

Silence. “Nigeria, are you with us?”

Another video link had failed during this attempt to hold a World Health Assembly virtually. All day, video links had been failing.

“Could we kindly move to Honduras to be followed by Zambia?”

The Honduran health minister appeared and she quickly reset the tone by talking about helping poorer countries and finding global solutions.

“My country is pleased to participate in this 73rd World Health Assembly, an assembly which is certainly out of the ordinary and which is taking place in times when solidarity and cooperation among countries are more necessary and indispensable than ever,” she said.

Courthouse News reporter Cain Burdeau is based in the European Union. 

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