politics
U.S. Secretary of State Says WHO Was Late to Identify Ebola Outbreak
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the World Health Organization was late in identifying an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The United States ended its funding for the WHO last year and announced new support for treatment centers in the region.
May 19, 7:24 PM·1m read1 source
Le MondeAudio version
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that the World Health Organization was late in identifying a deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rubio spoke to reporters after the State Department announced up to $13 million in initial funding for as many as 50 Ebola treatment centers in Congo or Uganda.
" The United States stopped funding the WHO after President Donald Trump directed a withdrawal from the organization last year. The WHO had received more than $1 billion annually from the United States under former President Joe Biden.
The State Department said the United States has an ironclad commitment to a rapid and cooperative response. Rubio noted that affected areas are in a hard-to-get-to place in a war-torn country. The WHO said earlier Tuesday it was concerned about the scale and speed of the outbreak.
Congo authorities have reported 136 suspected deaths. The State Department said the funding would support treatment centers in Congo or Uganda.
