Havana, April 15 (RHC)-- Cuba criticized the US decision to defund the World Health Organization amind the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla described the announcement on Twitter as an attack on the international community. 

" It is criminal to do something like that in the middle of a pandemic. It is a selfish action that seeks to divert attention from its ineffective response and lack of protection to its population,"  wrote Rodriguez.

The island's top diplomat said that Cuba, together with WHO, will continue to defend solidarity and cooperation.

Washington's decision announced by President Donald Trump on Tuesday has elicited universal condemnation.

In a statement, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres said that now is the time for solidarity to stop the virus and not the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the World Health Organization or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against it.