WHO Director: Over 117 million people in Eastern Mediterranean need humanitarian assistance

Cairo, Oct 14 (KUNA) -- WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday that more than 117 million people in the Eastern Mediterranean region require humanitarian assistance, as the region faces some of the world’s largest displacement crises. He made these remarks during his address on the second day of the 73rd session of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Committee, held in Cairo.

Ghebreyesus noted that the Eastern Mediterranean region has witnessed more attacks on health facilities, health workers, and patients than any other region, and emphasized that WHO teams continue to provide services in crisis areas, including Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, Lebanon, and Afghanistan.

He warned of persistent health disparities among countries in the region, particularly those affected by conflicts, climate shocks, and other fragility factors. He pointed to attacks on health care facilities and personnel, denial of health services to populations, and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and mental health needs.

These challenges are exacerbated by shortages in health and humanitarian funding, which have already led to reduced services and the closure of health facilities in several countries in the region.

He added that while conflicts eventually end, the challenge lies in their duration and the scale of suffering they cause, stressing that peacebuilding is essential to protect people’s lives and improve their health and humanitarian conditions.

Peace is the region’s most critical need, he affirmed, stating that health cannot be achieved without peace and that ending conflicts remains a choice that countries must make to reduce human suffering.

He stressed that sustainable investment in health is not merely a financial cost but an investment in stability, prosperity, peace, and human dignity, noting that funding shortfalls directly affect patients’ and families’ and communities’ ability to access essential health services.

Ghebreyesus called on countries in the region to continue investing in prevention as one of the most powerful tools for building healthier societies, strengthening equitable and resilient health systems, and enhancing emergency preparedness, health security, and crisis resilience.

He concluded his address by highlighting the region’s significant achievements in eradicating diseases, reducing maternal and under-five child mortality rates, advancing health workforce development, health financing, and strengthening regulatory frameworks and local production of medical products.

In a separate context, discussing Egypt’s experience in combating hepatitis C, Ghebreyesus said at a press conference that Cairo has demonstrated that success in tackling one disease can translate into a sustained commitment that strengthens the entire health system and delivers health benefits for future generations.

He said Egypt proved that its achievement in combating the disease was not a fleeting success but the result of sustained commitment, adding that the key lesson from the Egyptian experience is the capacity of targeted investments against a specific disease to strengthen the entire health system and yield long-term benefits for future generations.

He noted that Egypt became the first country to achieve the WHO Gold Standard on the path to eliminating hepatitis C, reflecting the success of its efforts in combating the disease and sustaining the results achieved.

It is worth noting that the WHO awarded Egypt a certificate of recognition during this session, acknowledging its retention of the Gold Standard rating under the WHO’s hepatitis C elimination program. (End) A.F.F./M.A.A.