The United States has formally completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), ending a 78‑year partnership with the UN health agency and prompting concern among global health officials and international partners.
The move became official on Thursday after the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that Washington had terminated its membership and halted all cooperation with the organization.
In its announcement, the department said the U.S. has stopped all financial contributions to the WHO and recalled American staff working within the agency.
WHO financial records show that the United States leaves behind more than 130 million dollars in unpaid dues, a shortfall arriving at a moment when the organization is already stretched by multiple health emergencies.
WHO Warns of a Setback for Global Health
Inside the WHO, officials described the U.S. departure as a significant blow to global health coordination, especially as the world continues to confront outbreaks of mpox, cholera, polio, and other fast‑moving diseases.
Senior staff noted that the U.S. has long been central to global surveillance networks that help detect new threats before they spread.
WHO leadership reiterated that the door remains open for renewed American engagement, emphasizing that U.S. scientific institutions have historically shaped some of the organization’s most important initiatives.
UN Officials Voice Worry Over Funding and Coordination
At the United Nations, the withdrawal was met with concern that the loss of the WHO’s largest traditional donor will disrupt essential programs, from vaccination campaigns to maternal health services.
Diplomats warned that the U.S. exit could slow the flow of critical epidemiological data that countries rely on to prepare for new outbreaks.
Impact on Palestinians and Refugee Health Services
Health officials in the region say the decision carries serious implications for Palestinians, particularly those living under occupation and in refugee camps.
The WHO plays a central role in supporting UNRWA’s network of clinics across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria — facilities that provide primary care, vaccinations, maternal health services, and disease surveillance for millions of Palestinian refugees.
In Gaza, where the health system has been repeatedly damaged by Israeli military operations and remains dependent on emergency support, WHO teams coordinate trauma care, supply essential medicines, and help keep hospitals and mobile clinics functioning. Any reduction in WHO capacity, officials warn, will further strain a system already operating under extreme pressure.
Public health workers say the U.S. withdrawal risks slowing vaccine delivery, disrupting disease‑monitoring programs, and weakening emergency response mechanisms that Palestinians rely on — especially in overcrowded refugee camps where outbreaks can spread rapidly.
Aid agencies noted that WHO support has been critical in maintaining neonatal care, chronic‑disease treatment, and mental‑health services in areas where local systems have collapsed.
International Reactions: Fears of a Leadership Vacuum
Health experts across Europe, Asia, and Africa said the decision risks weakening international cooperation at a time when global health systems remain fragile.
Analysts argued that the move undermines decades of American leadership in disease eradication and pandemic preparedness and could leave the U.S. itself more exposed to emerging threats.
Some specialists noted that without direct access to WHO‑coordinated early‑warning systems, the U.S. may find it harder to track new pathogens as they emerge in other parts of the world.
A Break with a Long Tradition of U.S. Health Diplomacy
The United States was one of the founding members of the WHO in 1948 and has played a central role in major global health achievements, including smallpox eradication and the expansion of childhood immunization programs.
The withdrawal marks a sharp departure from the bipartisan tradition of supporting international health cooperation.
As WHO member states prepare for upcoming meetings, they are expected to examine the financial and operational consequences of the U.S. exit, including how to address the unpaid contributions and the long‑term impact on global health programs — particularly in regions where health systems depend heavily on WHO support.
