Secret millions for the WHO: Who is behind the anonymous donations?

Donald Trump's withdrawal of U.S. funding from the World Health Organization (WHO) has left a financial gap as it faces an upcoming budget shortfall. At this critical moment, large anonymous donations are surfacing through the WHO Foundation, raising concerns about the organization’s dependence on undisclosed donors.

The proportion of anonymous donations in the total amount raised is enormous. Of a total of $82 million, $39 million were anonymous donations. This means that almost half of all donations received by the WHO Foundation were anonymous and cannot be traced, according to an analysis by the renowned medical journal The BMJ.

Critics assert that the foundation allows for funds that bypass usual accountability measures. This lack of transparency, particularly with nearly half of donations being anonymous, could skew global health policy and obscure conflicts of interest.

Experts are urging the WHO to increase transparency to safeguard its credibility, which has already been undermined during the COVID-19 pandemic.