Expensive colleagues,
Good morning from Cairo, Egypt.
11 November 2024 – Since our final briefing on well being emergencies, the battle we feared would escalate has intensified, resulting in a devastating deterioration within the Center East, notably within the occupied Palestinian territory and Lebanon.
The Famine Evaluate Committee has warned of imminent famine in North Gaza and 15 UN company leaders have described the state of affairs there as “apocalyptic”. But, tragically, nothing has modified – and maybe has solely change into worse.
Amid this relentless violence, we’re working tirelessly to maintain hospitals operational and evacuate sufferers in want of specialised care. Within the largest medical evacuation since October 2023, WHO and companions facilitated the switch of 90 sufferers and 139 companions to the UAE and Romania, with 84 sufferers and 124 companions transferred to the UAE.
WHO has constantly advocated for medical evacuations all through the hostilities. Whereas each affected person’s secure evacuation is successful, you will need to do not forget that every evacuation means sufferers and companions crossing borders, abandoning what’s left of their properties and communities, their household and pals trapped in a struggle –family members they might by no means see once more.
The trauma and emotional toll of this battle are immeasurable.
Up to now 3 weeks, WHO and companions have accomplished 7 missions to North Gaza, together with 5 to Kamal Adwan Hospital. A number of extra had been deliberate however not facilitated. Throughout these missions, our groups delivered important medical and surgical provides to maintain hospital operations. On considered one of these missions, heavy bombardment continued near the place our groups had been delivering assist.
There’s actually no secure place in Gaza.
In an amazing achievement, the second spherical of the polio vaccination marketing campaign within the Gaza Strip was accomplished final week, with over 500 000 youngsters beneath 10 vaccinated with a second dose. The marketing campaign succeeded towards unimaginable odds, with deliberate humanitarian pauses considerably curtailed. This speaks to the unbelievable braveness of polio groups, mother and father and caregivers who pursue well being and hope within the face of despair.
It isn’t doable to debate Gaza with out acknowledging the indispensable position of UNRWA in delivering essential companies. Because the World Well being Group’s Director-Normal has emphasised, there isn’t any substitute for UNRWA. I need to take this second to acknowledge the dedication of UNRWA workers — well being and humanitarian professionals working tirelessly for his or her communities beneath unimaginable circumstances. Our work, and the work of different humanitarian companions within the occupied Palestinian territory wouldn’t be doable with out them.
In Lebanon, the state of affairs is equally distressing, with well being amenities beneath sustained assault. Since 8 October final yr WHO has verified 103 assaults on well being care.
As of in the present day, 17 hospitals in Lebanon have both ceased operations or are solely functioning partially as a consequence of insecurity or harm to infrastructure. In areas of lively hostilities, an estimated 127 – practically 60% – of main well being care centres and dispensaries have been compelled to shut.
This systemic disruption of well being care is an more and more disturbing development, impacting the current and way forward for whole populations. It’s a stark violation of worldwide humanitarian legislation.
We can’t — and should not — permit this to change into a norm.
In preparation for the heavy burden of traumatic accidents, over 5500 well being employees throughout greater than 112 hospitals in Lebanon have acquired superior coaching in mass casualty administration and psychological first assist. WHO has additionally delivered 124 metric tons of medical provides, together with a 3-month inventory of blood financial institution provides and trauma-kits for 45 precedence hospitals.
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Let me flip to Sudan. That each second Sudanese —round 25 million folks — requires humanitarian assist is a harrowing actuality. On this agriculturally wealthy land individuals are enduring the world’s largest starvation disaster. The humanitarian disaster in Sudan is past measure.
I’m notably involved concerning the state of affairs in Al Jazirah state which has deteriorated quickly as a consequence of intense preventing throughout latest weeks. Starvation has intensified, well being amenities have been attacked and there are studies of mass rapes and killings. Each well being facility in East Jazirah has been attacked. Among the many many lives misplaced are the one feminine physician within the space and a dialysis centre biomedical engineer. WHO medical provides and ambulances have been supporting with speedy help, together with trauma care and emergency surgical procedures for casualties in addition to for illness outbreak surveillance and response.
We’re working carefully with companions to watch and comprise the cholera outbreak in Sudan, supporting the deployment of tens of millions of oral cholera vaccines throughout a number of states. We now have arrange 12 cholera remedy items and 48 oral rehydration factors and have donated essential remedy provides to the Ministry of Well being and companions like Médecins Sans Frontières working different remedy centres.
Regardless of the immense challenges dealing with Sudan, I’m proud to share that it has change into the primary nation within the Jap Mediterranean Area to launch one of many new malaria vaccines — a vital step in preventing one of many world’s deadliest illnesses that kills practically half 1,000,000 youngsters beneath the age of 5 every year in Africa.
The opening of the Adre crossing with Chad has enabled a circulate of lifesaving medical provides to Darfur, the place wants stay monumental amid persistent battle, starvation and illness. We’re deeply involved about plans to shut the Adre border, a lifeline for a whole lot of 1000’s trapped in Darfur. We urge the Sudanese authorities to rethink this resolution for the sake of people that have already lived by way of unimaginable ache.
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As we focus on nations enduring grave crises, I would like us to recollect these which are sometimes ignored. Throughout latest visits to Somalia and Djibouti, I witnessed first-hand the resilience of those typically forgotten populations.
In Somalia, I noticed a rustic at a crossroads. A long time of battle, compounded by excessive climate and illness outbreaks, have left their mark, but there’s highly effective dedication to alter. Well being infrastructure is devastated, with greater than 40% of Somalis missing primary companies. Listening to of youngsters who’ve by no means had a single vaccine, and visiting hospitals struggling to serve moms and newborns, underscored the gaps we should tackle collectively.
I’m particularly grateful for the federal government’s drive to finish polio and strengthen well being companies by way of the Nationwide Transformation Plan, a imaginative and prescient that aligns carefully with WHO’s regional priorities for constructing a talented well being workforce, enhancing entry to important medicines and reinforcing well being infrastructure. This work is complicated and, at occasions, daunting, however with continued assist from our companions I imagine we are able to make lasting progress.
Djibouti, too, is making strides regardless of the percentages. I used to be impressed by the federal government’s dedication to common well being protection, even because it grapples with pressures from local weather change and migration which place important strains on well being companies.
Djibouti’s place as a key transit level means it faces distinctive public well being challenges. I visited centres the place devoted workers present well being care companies to migrants and native communities alike, typically beneath extraordinarily making an attempt circumstances. With rising noncommunicable illnesses like diabetes and hypertension, Djibouti is working to strengthen main care, and I’m inspired by their drive to construct a well being system that serves everybody. WHO will assist this journey, by addressing workforce gaps and advocating for sustainable well being financing to assist Djibouti cut back reliance on exterior assist.
After assembly with leaders, well being employees and humanitarian companions in each nations, I ended my visits with a way of willpower. Somalia and Djibouti might face completely different challenges, however the resilience of their folks is putting. I’m dedicated to amplifying their voices and calling for sustained assist. WHO stands with the folks of Somalia, Djibouti and all these affected by crises that the world appears to have forgotten. Regardless of the challenges, we’re bringing well being companies nearer to these in want, constructing resilient techniques and guaranteeing that each particular person has the possibility for a more healthy future. I urge the worldwide neighborhood to hitch us in our mission.
Earlier than I shut, I need to reaffirm WHO’s key asks for the Jap Mediterranean Area:
We urgently name for speedy and sustained ceasefires within the occupied Palestinian territory, Lebanon and Sudan, and unhindered entry to ship lifesaving assist.
We demand the safety of civilians, well being care employees and well being amenities always, in all nations dealing with humanitarian and well being emergencies.
And we ask that the world remembers each neighborhood in want — from Afghanistan to Syria, Yemen, the occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia and Sudan — and stands with us in our humanitarian mission to serve them.
Thanks.
