The United Nations rejected on Thursday an accusation by the United States that the world body was using the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to promote access to abortion through its humanitarian response to the deadly global outbreak.

The UN is seeking some US$6.7 billion for its coronavirus response plan and has so far received US$1 billion, of which US$172.9 million was given by the United States. A Reuters tally shows the coronavirus, or Covid-19, has infected some 5 million people globally and caused almost 327,000 deaths.