New york: The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that the reasons cited by the United States for its withdrawal from the UN health agency are "untrue," warning that the move poses a risk to global safety. According to Anadolu Agency, Ghebreyesus expressed his concerns on the US social media platform X, emphasizing the US's significant contributions as a founding member of WHO and reaffirming the organization's commitment to respecting the sovereignty of all member states. He expressed hope for the US's future return to active participation in WHO and reiterated the agency's dedication to its mission of ensuring the highest attainable standard of health for all people. The WHO defended its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, rejecting US allegations of failure and obstruction in the timely sharing of critical information. The US had accused the organization of pursuing a politicized agenda and criticized its financial contribution compared to other countries. De spite the withdrawal, WHO maintained that it operates impartially, serving all nations equally. The US finalized its departure from WHO on January 22, following a required one-year notice period. This decision was influenced by former President Donald Trump's criticisms during his second term, as he accused WHO of mishandling the COVID-19 outbreak and being biased towards China. Trump's actions ended nearly 78 years of US membership and funding for WHO.