This picture taken on May 12, 2020, shows a sign of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva next to their headquarters, amid the COVID-19 outbreak. (PHOTO / AFP)

GENEVA - A resolution on the need to investigate the global response to the coronavirus pandemic won endorsement at the World Health Organisation’s annual ministerial meeting on Tuesday.

None of the WHO’s 194 member states - which include the United States - raised objections to the resolution brought by the European Union on behalf of more than 100 countries including Australia, China and Japan.

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We want accountability more than anyone. We will continue providing strategic leadership to coordinate the global response to the pandemic.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general 

“Is the (World) Health Assembly prepared to adopt the draft resolution as proposed? As I see no requests for the floor, I take it that there is no objection and the resolution is therefore adopted,” said Keva Bain, the Bahamas ambassador who serves as the assembly’s president. Applause erupted from officials hosting the annual gathering.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the WHO will continue to lead the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic which “threatens to tear at the fabric of international cooperation".

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Tedros thanked “the many member states who have expressed their support and solidarity” at its two-day annual ministerial assembly.

He welcomed the resolution that calls for an independent evaluation of the international response, “including, but not limited to, WHO’s performance”.

“We want accountability more than anyone,” Tedros said. “We will continue providing strategic leadership to coordinate the global response” to the pandemic.