The World Health Organization WHO has announced a road map for cuts and tightening as it navigates a different reality in the absence of US funding.
A new internal memo signed by WHO assistant director-general Raul Thomas detailed plans by the UN agency to limit staff contracts to one year as it makes efforts to fix priorities.
The document along with detailing further cuts stated that senior officials within the agency have already begun prioritizing work that would make the global agency’s work sustainable.
"While operating in an extremely fluid environment, WHO’s senior management are working to navigate these shifting tides by undertaking a prioritization process," the memo said.
"Their work will ensure that every resource is directed toward the most pressing priorities while preserving WHO's ability to make a lasting impact," it said.
Washington, which was instrumental in helping set up the agency after World War Two and has been one of its most active members, is by far the U.N. health agency's biggest financial backer, contributing around 18% of its overall funding.
The document also mentioned that staff were already seeking funding from alternative sources like philanthropists, private donors and other countries.
It is unclear however if these attempts at seeking funding have been successful.
The internal memo, while not outrightly announcing immediate staff cuts, said "given the magnitude of the challenges we face, some difficult decisions are unavoidable."
In the period from 2022 to 2023, the US gave up to $1.284 billion to WHO as experts continue to decry the move by the Trump administration saying that it would spell disaster for public health around the world.
A passenger boat caught fire and capsized late Tuesday on the Congo River, killing at least 50 people and leaving hundreds more missing, officials confirmed Wednesday. The tragedy occurred near the northwestern town of Mbandaka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Chinese and Vietnamese navies have launched a week-long joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin, a move aimed at deepening maritime cooperation between the two countries.
Finnish power grid operator Fingrid announced on Wednesday that repairs to the damaged EstLink 2 subsea power line, which connects Finland and Estonia, will begin in May, with the line expected to return to commercial use by July 15, 2025.
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the Secretary of Commerce to launch an investigation into the country’s heavy reliance on imported critical minerals.
Türkiye has firmly rejected Greece's unilateral actions and claims regarding maritime spatial planning (MSP) in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, asserting that these actions will have no legal consequences for Ankara.
A passenger boat caught fire and capsized late Tuesday on the Congo River, killing at least 50 people and leaving hundreds more missing, officials confirmed Wednesday. The tragedy occurred near the northwestern town of Mbandaka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A new wave of attacks targeting French prisons has emerged overnight, with cars set on fire at several facilities, including at the Tarascon prison in southern France.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is set to visit Russia on Thursday, ahead of a second round of talks between Tehran and the United States regarding Iran's nuclear program. According to Russia’s RIA state news agency, Araqchi will meet with senior Russian officials during the visit.
Greece has submitted its long-awaited maritime spatial plan to the European Union, outlining how it will organize various maritime activities such as fishing, tourism, offshore energy, and more.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 10th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A quiet Thursday afternoon at St. Peter’s Basilica turned into something extraordinary, as visitors caught a rare glimpse of Pope Francis — not in his familiar white papal robes, but dressed in black trousers and a striped blanket.
In a dramatic about-face, U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 90-day pause on newly implemented tariffs for dozens of countries — a move that eased market turmoil but further escalated tensions with China.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Israeli and British scientists have developed a breakthrough blood test capable of detecting Parkinson’s disease in its earliest stages—before symptoms even begin—potentially revolutionizing diagnosis and treatment.
China State Shipbuilding Corporation’s Haishen Medical Technology Co has developed the world’s first emergency medical rescue drone to enhance disaster response capabilities in extreme environments.
The European Commission is preparing to adopt emergency measures to curb the spread of bird flu in Poland’s Masovian and Greater Poland regions, where 73 outbreaks have occurred in two months. These steps aim to protect public health and the poultry industry amid growing concerns.
Kyrgyzstan has joined the TB-Free Central Asia initiative, a regional effort launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and five Central Asian countries to eliminate tuberculosis and drug-resistant TB by 2030.
The Philippine government has imposed a temporary ban on importing both wild and domestic birds from Belgium after an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) was confirmed in the city of Sint-Niklaas. The Department of Agriculture announced the suspension on Monday, citing the need to p
Türkiye has firmly rejected Greece's unilateral actions and claims regarding maritime spatial planning (MSP) in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, asserting that these actions will have no legal consequences for Ankara.
A passenger boat caught fire and capsized late Tuesday on the Congo River, killing at least 50 people and leaving hundreds more missing, officials confirmed Wednesday. The tragedy occurred near the northwestern town of Mbandaka in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A new wave of attacks targeting French prisons has emerged overnight, with cars set on fire at several facilities, including at the Tarascon prison in southern France.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi is set to visit Russia on Thursday, ahead of a second round of talks between Tehran and the United States regarding Iran's nuclear program. According to Russia’s RIA state news agency, Araqchi will meet with senior Russian officials during the visit.
Greece has submitted its long-awaited maritime spatial plan to the European Union, outlining how it will organize various maritime activities such as fishing, tourism, offshore energy, and more.
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