GENEVA - Member states of the World Health Organization on Monday approved a $6.83 billion budget for the next two years which includes a 20% hike in their mandatory fees.

The proposal for the 2024-2025 budget passed with no objections and was met with lengthy applause. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the step as "historic and a big milestone".

"We don't take it lightly, and we don't take it for granted and we'll do everything that we can to make this organisation better," he added.

(Reporting by Emma Farge; editing by Matthias Williams)