Regional Director for Global Health: The conflict that we feared has intensified and led to a catastrophic deterioration in the Middle East
Dr. said. Hanan Hassan Balkhi, Director of the World Health Organization for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, said in the regional emergency briefing today that the conflict that we feared would escalate has intensified, leading to a catastrophic deterioration in the Middle East, especially in the occupied Palestinian territory and Lebanon.
The Famine Review Commission warned of an imminent famine in northern Gaza, and 15 leaders of UN agencies described the situation in northern Gaza as “catastrophic.” However, unfortunately, nothing has changed, and the situation may have gotten worse.
We are working tirelessly, amidst this ongoing violence, to keep hospitals running and evacuate patients who need specialized care, in the largest operation. Medical evacuation Since October 2023, MSF and its partners have facilitated the transfer of 90 patients and 139 companions to the United Arab Emirates and Romania. Of these, 84 patients were transferred to the UAE, along with 124 companions.
The World Health Organization has continued to call for medical evacuation throughout these months during which hostilities continued, and despite Every safe evacuation of one patient is an achievement. It is also important to remember that evacuation means patients and their companions crossing borders, abandoning what remains of their homes and communities, and leaving behind their families and friends. Trapped in the war, they are their loved ones who may never see them again.
The traumas and psychological burdens resulting from this conflict cannot be described.
p>
In the past three weeks, the World Health Organization and its partners completed 7 missions to northern Gaza, including 5 missions to Kamal Adwan Hospital, and several other missions were scheduled to be sent, but they could not be implemented, and during these missions, our teams provided essential medical and surgical supplies so that hospitals could continue their work, and in one of these missions, heavy shelling continued in close proximity to our teams while providing aid, and there is truly no safe place in Gaza.
p>
In a tremendous achievement, last week the second round of the polio vaccination campaign was completed in the Gaza Strip, with more than five hundred thousand children under the age of 10 receiving the second dose of the vaccine. Years.
The campaign succeeded despite the unimaginable difficulties it faced, as the scope of the planned humanitarian truces was greatly reduced, and this indicates the tremendous courage shown by the vaccination teams. Against polio, the parents and caregivers, who all sought to preserve the health of children and hold on to hope for the future under desperate circumstances.
Hanan emphasized Balkhi, it is not possible to talk about Gaza without mentioning the pivotal role of UNRWA in providing necessary services. As the Director-General of the World Health Organization has emphasized, UNRWA is irreplaceable, and I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the dedication of UNRWA staff – health and humanitarian workers who work tirelessly for their communities under unimaginable conditions that we and other humanitarian partners on Earth will never be able to do. The occupied Palestinian territories must do our work without them.
As for the situation in Lebanon, it is equally deplorable, where health facilities To fierce attacks, and since October 8 of last year, the World Health Organization has verified that 103 attacks have occurred on healthcare facilities.
To date, 17 hospitals in Lebanon have stopped working or have stopped working. Partially operational due to insecurity or damage to infrastructure, and in areas where hostilities are raging, an estimated 127 people have been forced – That is, approximately 60% – of basic health care centers and dispensaries to closure.
Balkhi said, this systemic disruption of health care indicates an increasingly worrying trend that affects the present and future of groups entire population and constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. We cannot allow this to be the new normal.
In preparation for the high burden of traumatic injuries, more than 5,500 health workers in more than 112 hospitals in Lebanon received advanced training in mass casualty management and mental health first aid, and the World Health Organization delivered 124 metric tons of medical supplies, including a stock of blood bank supplies and trauma supplies sufficient 45 priority hospitals for 3 months.
And I continued, now I would like to address the situation in Sudan, the fact that half of the citizens of Sudan – that is, about 25 million people – need aid Humanity is a horrific reality. In the land of Sudan, which is an agricultural paradise, people are suffering from the largest hunger crisis in the world, and the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan is beyond catastrophic. Description.
I am particularly concerned about the situation in Jazira State, whose conditions quickly deteriorated as a result of the intense fighting in recent weeks, its people became increasingly hungry, and its health facilities were subjected to attacks. Reports of mass rape and murder. All health facilities in the east of the island were attacked. Among the many killed were the area’s only female doctor and a biomedical engineer who supported the dialysis centre, providing medical supplies and vehicles. WHO Ambulance provides immediate support, especially with regard to trauma care and emergency surgery for victims, as well as disease outbreak surveillance and response.
We are also working closely with partners to monitor and contain the cholera outbreak in Sudan. We provide support for the dissemination of millions of oral anti-cholera vaccines in various states, and we have established 12 cholera treatment units and 48 oral rehydration centers, in addition to donating therapeutic supplies. urgent response to the Ministry of Health and partners who supervise other treatment centres, for example Doctors Without Borders.
Despite the enormous challenges facing Sudan, today, I am pleased to announce that Sudan has become the first country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to launch one The new anti-malaria vaccines are an essential step to combat one of the deadliest diseases for children in the world, as it causes the death of nearly half a million children under the age of five annually in Africa.
And it opened The Adre crossing between Chad and Darfur will facilitate the flow of life-saving medical supplies into Darfur, where needs remain overwhelming due to continuing conflict, hunger and disease. We are deeply concerned about plans to close the Adre crossing, a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people trapped in Darfur, and we urge the Sudanese authorities to reconsider this decision for the sake of the people who have already endured unimaginable suffering.
In the context of talking about countries that suffer from serious crises, let us remember those countries whose crises are often forgotten. During my recent visit to Somalia and Djibouti, I witnessed for myself the enormous challenges faced by the often marginalized populations in these countries and their ability to withstand.
In Somalia, I saw a country at a crossroads, as this country suffers from the effects of decades of conflicts, Extreme weather and disease outbreaks are making the situation worse, yet there is a strong commitment to change. The health infrastructure is suffering from devastation, as more than 40% of Somalis lack access to basic services, and when I learned that there are children who have not received a single dose of the vaccine, and when I visited hospitals that are struggling to serve mothers and newborns, the gaps that must be To tackle it together.
I am particularly grateful for the government’s efforts to eradicate polio and strengthen health services through the National Transformation Plan, a vision closely aligned With WHO’s regional priorities of building a skilled health workforce, improving access to essential medicines, and strengthening health infrastructure, this work is complex, and sometimes exhausting, but with the continued support of our partners, I believe we can make lasting progress.
Djibouti is also making great strides despite the difficulties, inspired by the government’s commitment to achieving universal health coverage, even as it suffers from pressures from climate change and migration that place significant burdens on services.
Djibouti faces unique public health challenges due to its strategic location as a major transit point, and I visited migrant centers where specialized staff provide health care services to migrants and local communities across the country. Both, often in very difficult circumstances.
With the increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, Djibouti is working to strengthen primary care, and is impressed by Striving to build a health system that serves everyone, the World Health Organization will support this journey, especially by addressing workforce gaps and advocating for sustainable health financing to help Djibouti reduce dependence on foreign aid.
After meeting leaders, health workers, and partners in the field of humanitarian work in both countries, I ended my visit to both countries determined to work.
And perhaps he will face… Somalia and Djibouti have different challenges, but the resilience of their people is remarkably similar, and I am committed to highlighting the needs of these two people and constantly calling for their support. The World Health Organization stands with the people of Somalia and Djibouti, and all those affected by crises that the world seems to have forgotten, and despite Among the challenges, we seek to bring health services closer to those who need them, build resilient systems, and strive to ensure that every person has the opportunity to enjoy a healthier future, and I urge The international community wants to join us in our mission.
Before concluding, I would like to reiterate WHO’s main calls for the Eastern Mediterranean Region:
p>
We make an urgent appeal for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the occupied Palestinian territory, Lebanon and Sudan, and to ensure the delivery of life-saving aid without Obstacles.
She said, We demand the protection of civilians, health care workers and health facilities at all times, in all countries facing humanitarian and health emergencies.
She continued: We call on the world to remember every community in need of help – From Afghanistan to Syria, Yemen, Palestine, Somalia and Sudan – And to stand by us in our humanitarian mission to serve them.
