Staffers complain of racism, abuse by WHO leader in Asia

By MARIA CHENG
AP Medical Writer

Staffers at the World Health Organization have alleged the U.N. health agency’s top director in the Western Pacific engaged in unethical, racist, and abusive behavior that has undermined its efforts to curb the coronavirus pandemic, according to an internal complaint filed last October. The complaints were also emailed to senior WHO leadership last week and describe a “toxic atmosphere” with “a culture of systemic bullying” at WHO’s regional headquarters in the Philippines. Recordings obtained by the Associated Press show that regional director Dr. Takeshi Kasai made derogatory remarks about staff in meetings based on their nationality. Kasai, the director of a vast region that includes China and Japan, denies the allegations.