Trump says WHO ignored China's 'racist' actions on Africans

US President Donald Trump has criticised the World Health Organization (WHO) for not responding strongly to reports of racism and discrimination of Africans living in southern Chinese city of Guangzhou in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

In a letter to the WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Mr Trump accused the body of not commenting on "China's racially discriminatory actions" despite complaints of "forced quarantines, evictions and refusal of services" by African nationals.

He was referring to widespread testing of foreign nationals in Guangzhou in mid-April that was marred by claims of Africans being targeted on the basis of their race.

Video clips of Africans sleeping on the streets after allegedly being evicted from houses and hotels emerged, with those interviewed saying they were being forced into quarantine.

The Guangzhou authorities at the time denied claims of racial profiling, but President Trump has said the WHO should have condemned the "racially discriminatory actions".

Mr Trump has shared the letter he sent to Dr Tedros on Twitter:

This is the letter sent to Dr. Tedros of the World Health Organization. It is self-explanatory! pic.twitter.com/pF2kzPUpDv

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2020