FAS President Statement o Ammerican Withdrawal from World Health Organization

FAS President Statement on American Withdrawal from World Health Organization Washington, DC, May 29, 2020  The Federation of American Scientists disagrees strongly with the Trump administration's announcement to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization. The World Health Organization's role in providing assistance, setting health standards, and collecting data are instrumental in the global fight against disease. WHO was pivotal in the global effort to eradicate smallpox - a virus that killed 300 million people in the 20th century alone.  Global cooperation is just as important today as it was then. SARS-CoV-2 does not recognize borders. It has already infected millions, killed over 360,000 and, at the moment, there is no end in sight. As the World Health Organization supports the development of drugs, vaccines, and other measures to curb spread, a US withdrawal will weaken our ability to fight COVID-19. FAS therefore urges the administration to rethink this decision and to join global partners to end the pandemic.  Ali Nouri, President, the Federation of American Scientists The Federation of American Scientists, founded in 1945, is devoted to the view that scientists, engineers and other technically trained people have the ethical obligation to ensure that science and technology is applied to the benefit of humankind. FAS works to reduce the risk of nuclear weapons and infectious disease, works to make government more informed and more transparent, and strives for a more educated public by fighting the spread of disinformation.