The United States' over what President Donald Trump said was its "mismanaging" of the global coronavirus pandemic has triggered anger and concern.
Mr Trump announced on Wednesday that the US would halt payments to the United Nations body that amounted to $400 million last year.
He said it would be frozen pending a review into the WHO's role in "severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus," said Mr Trump, who accused the Geneva-based body of putting "political correctness above life-saving measures."
The US President charged that the outbreak could have been contained "with very little death" if the WHO had accurately assessed the situation in China, where the disease broke out late last year.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO. Source: AAP
In response, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it was "not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organisation in the fight against the virus".
"It is my belief that the World Health Organization must be supported, as it is absolutely critical to the world's efforts to win the war against COVID-19," he said.
China's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also expressed "serious concern" over the decision, describing the current global situation as "grim".
"This US decision will weaken WHO's capacities and undermine the international cooperation against the epidemic," he said.
"We urge the United States to earnestly fulfil their responsibilities and obligations, and support the WHO-led international action against the epidemic."
Meanwhile, European leaders also slammed the move, including European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.
"There is no reason justifying this move at a moment when their efforts are needed more than ever to help contain and mitigate the coronavirus pandemic," he said on Twitter.
"Only by joining forces, we can overcome this crisis that knows no borders.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who is one of the key private funders of the health organisation, said halting funding was "as dangerous as it sounds".
"Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them," he wrote on Twitter.
Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, also spoke out against Mr Trump's statement.
Africa has so far not been hit by the coronavirus as hard as other regions, but experts worry that weak health systems could quickly become overwhelmed by an influx of cases.
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If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
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