Mr Faki called the move "deeply regrettable" and said "today more than ever, the world depends on WHO's leadership" in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

BBC Africa health editor Anne Mawathe says the move will have a devastating impact in Africa, where the WHO has played an especially important role in the fight against malaria, TB and HIV in Africa.

The WHO often helps fill the funding gaps in Africa's weak healthcare infrastructure, paying for much needed essentials, she says.

It is also playing a key role coordinating much of the coronavirus response in the continent, she says.

The US is the single largest funder of the WHO, providing more than $400m (£320m) each year - about 15% of its total budget.

Mr Trump said on Tuesday that the WHO had "failed in its basic duty" in its response to coronavirus.

Mr Trump has accused the WHO of making deadly mistakes and overly trusting China.

"I am directing my administration to halt funding while a review is conducted to assess the World Health Organization's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus," Mr Trump told reporters on Tuesday.

A White House statement on Wednesday said the agency had "failed" the US people.

He has been widely criticised for his decision.