WHO staffers allege racism, abuse in Asia

World Health Organization. Pic/AFP

Current and former staffers have accused the top director of the World Health Organization in the Western Pacific, Dr Takeshi Kasai, of racist, unethical and abusive behaviour that has undermined the agency's efforts to curb the pandemic.

The allegations were laid out in an internal complaint filed in October and again in an email last week, sent by unidentified "concerned WHO staff" to senior leadership and the executive board. Two of the authors said over 30 staffers were involved in writing it, and that it reflected the experiences of over 50 people. They describe a "toxic atmosphere" with "a culture of systemic bullying and public ridiculing" at WHO's Western Pacific HQ in Manila.

In an email to the AP, Kasai denied the allegations. He said after receiving the email, he immediately took steps to communicate with all his staff. But, an internal WHO message seen by the AP shows that in a meeting last week, Kasai ordered all his senior directors and country representatives to "reject" the accusations and to "totally support" him.

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