This file photo taken on February 24, 2020 shows the logo of the World Health Organization (WHO) at their headquarters in Geneva. (FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP)

UNITED NATIONS / LONDON - A United Nations spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that the United States on Monday notified UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The United States currently owes the WHO more than $200 million in assessed contributions, according to the WHO website

"In answer to questions received just now, I can say that on July 6, 2020, the United States of America notified the secretary-general, in his capacity as depositary of the 1946 Constitution of the World Health Organization, of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, effective on July 6, 2021," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres, said in an email sent to UN resident correspondents.

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"The United States is a party to the World Health Organization Constitution since June 21, 1948. The United States' participation in the World Health Organization was accepted by the World Health Assembly with certain conditions set out by the US for its eventual withdrawal from the World Health Organization. The said conditions include giving a one-year notice and fully meeting the payment of assessed financial obligations," said the spokesman.

"The secretary-general, in his capacity as depositary, is in the process of verifying with the World Health Organization whether all the conditions for such withdrawal are met," Dujarric added.

The United States currently owes the WHO more than US$200 million in assessed contributions, according to the WHO website.

In London, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus pulled out of an event at the last minute on Wednesday after organisers said he had to attend diplomatic meetings linked to the US notification of its withdrawal from the WHO.

The event at London’s Chatham House think tank had been due to feature Tedros in a live webinar about the COVID-19 pandemic led by David Heymann, a former senior WHO official and a professor of global health.

Heymann told the online event: “I have been in touch with his (Tedros’) office on another issue (this morning), and I was told he has a series of diplomatic meetings today which is the result of the US withdrawal.”

Tedros’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi described US President Donald Trump’s official withdrawal as “an act of true senselessness as WHO coordinates the global fight against COVID-19.”

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“With millions of lives at risk, the President is crippling the international effort to defeat the virus,” the Democratic leader posted on Twitter.

So far, there have been nearly 12 million cases of the coronavirus and more than 540,000 known deaths worldwide, according to a Reuters tally, with about 25 percent of both cases and deaths in the United States.

Trump’s decision could be overturned before it takes effect if he is defeated by his Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, in a November election.

Trump had halted funding for the 194-member organization in April, then in a May 18 letter gave the WHO 30 days to commit to reforms. He announced the United States would quit less than two weeks later.

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Vice President Mike Pence, asked in a Fox News Channel interview whether it was the right time to break with the WHO, said: “It’s absolutely the right time.”

“The World Health Organization let the world down ... There have to be consequences to this,” Pence said.

The WHO is an independent international body that works with the United Nations. 

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said that the WHO is “absolutely critical to the world’s efforts to win the war against COVID-19.”

Since taking office, Trump has also quit the UN Human Rights Council, the UN cultural agency, a global accord to tackle climate change and the Iran nuclear deal. He has also cut funding for the UN population fund and the UN agency that aids Palestinian refugees.

With Reuters inputs