Authorities representatives name for standardized public well being procedures on the shut of a 3-day simulation train.
25 August 2025, Cairo, Egypt – Authorities representatives from Egypt, Libya, Sudan and Tunisia — main international locations on migratory routes in North Africa — convened in Cairo from 18–20 August for a 3-day table-top simulation train (SimEx) organized by the World Well being Group (WHO) and the Worldwide Group for Migration (IOM).
The 4 international locations share porous borders. Displaced individuals typically face overcrowding, insufficient shelter, poor sanitation and restricted entry to well timed, high quality well being care companies. These circumstances create public well being dangers for migrants, refugees and host communities. When well being care companies are usually not accessible to all, it fuels inequity and undermines well being safety.
The SimEx introduced collectively delegates from Ministries of Well being, Inside and Transport to check preparedness for cross-border inhabitants actions in step with the Worldwide Well being Rules (IHR 2005). Centered on making certain entry to well being companies for refugees, migrants and different individuals on the transfer whereas reinforcing nationwide well being safety, it concerned interactive and sensible workout routines on stakeholder coordination for public well being occasion prevention, detection and response, aiming to enhance compliance with IHR 2005, improve communication between sectors and establish gaps to strengthen cross-border public well being administration, together with entry to well being care companies.
On the conclusion of the train, the multisectoral authorities representatives beneficial standardizing public well being procedures throughout borders to advertise consistency and coordination. They referred to as for sustainable dialogue and follow-up workout routines to refine and scale-up bilateral and regional cross-border collaboration mechanisms and for formal collaboration frameworks and authorized agreements between neighbouring international locations to be established, constructing on mechanisms already in place.
Individuals underscored the significance of strengthening technical capability at nationwide and cross-border ranges, together with real-time cross-border collaboration and communication throughout energetic outbreaks, and managing inhabitants motion and joint public well being dangers in step with the IHR 2005.
On the primary day, on the sidelines of the SimEx, WHO, the Italian Embassy in Egypt and IOM co-hosted a reception to temporary on WHO and IOM initiatives supporting migrant well being. On the occasion, Dr Mohamed Jama, Senior Adviser to the WHO Regional Director for the Japanese Mediterranean, harassed: “We convey collectively the governments of Egypt, Libya, Sudan and Tunisia alongside our companions as a result of the challenges we face are shared – and so too should be our response. Collectively, we may also help alleviate the struggling of individuals on the transfer by offering important, dignified well being care to thousands and thousands in transit who’re escaping conflicts and instability throughout our Area.”
Justin MacDermott, IOM Deputy Regional Director for Operations, added: “Migrants are too typically uncovered to undignified circumstances that erode well-being, resilience and human dignity. We should act now to broaden lifesaving companies, strengthen well being methods and shield susceptible migrants and host communities.”
The Japanese Mediterranean Area includes 22 international locations and territories, from which almost 50% of the estimated 45 million refugees and asylum seekers in 2024 originated. An estimated 33% of them stay within the Area.
Talking to individuals and companions, the Italian Embassy in Cairo emphasised Italy’s robust assist for inclusive well being care, saying: “Well being shouldn’t be a privilege however a foundational proper, a human proper. Our strategy combines political will with robust humanistic efforts to assist stability, fairness and resilience, notably within the face of worldwide challenges and the fixed problem to the multilateral rules-based order.”
The table-top simulation train is a part of a broader joint regional initiative by WHO and IOM to strengthen cross-border well being safety in North Africa, supported by the Italian Ministry of Overseas Affairs and in collaboration with Africa CDC. Two earlier workshops in Tunisia introduced collectively Algeria, Libya and Tunisia to design a regional workplan for bettering border well being preparedness and coordination. This SimEx scaled up the scope and expanded the geographic protection.
The simulation train marks a vital milestone in advancing regional well being safety in North Africa, the place migration and mobility are defining options of public well being dynamics. By strengthening preparedness and coordination, governments within the Area reaffirmed their dedication to defending the well being of migrants, refugees, host communities and all populations in danger.
