29 January 2025
Good afternoon to all journalists and media representatives, and thanks in your continued efforts to make clear the humanitarian and well being scenario in our Area — dwelling to a number of the most weak individuals on the planet at present.
For the primary time since I took workplace, we discover ourselves in a second of fragile hope. A ceasefire is holding in Gaza, one other has been prolonged in Lebanon. Syria has not too long ago confronted a swift transition. I wish to start this briefing by expressing my hope— that not solely do these ceasefires endure, however that they pave the best way for a long-lasting cessation of hostilities. Similar to one little boy named Ashraf from Gaza stated, “We hope that the ceasefire is for actual… don’t allow us to down like each time.”
A lot of you’ll have seen the heartbreaking photographs of households returning to north Gaza—to locations the place their houses as soon as have been, the place now solely rubble stays. Lots of of 1000’s have come again to devastated neighborhoods with nearly no well being facility remaining intact. Throughout these weeks of ceasefire, our prime precedence is to revive important well being companies and make hospitals and well being amenities operational as swiftly as potential.
The psychological trauma going through the individuals of Gaza is unspeakable. This can be a place the place everyone seems to be grieving. They’ve endured unimaginable violence, months of inadequate meals, scarce water, and nights haunted by the relentless sound of drones. The collective trauma is profound and past measure. Supporting psychological well being is a key side of our response, as we try to assist people and households course of the devastation they’ve been by.
A ceasefire in a single space should not come at the price of escalating atrocities and violence in one other. We’re intently monitoring the scenario within the West Financial institution, which has already endured relentless assaults on healthcare since October 2023. Peace and the restoration of well being amenities are urgently wanted throughout all Palestinian territories.
It isn’t potential to debate humanitarian efforts in Gaza with out recognizing the essential significance of UNRWA. The UN company has been ordered to vacate its headquarters in East Jerusalem by tomorrow. I wish to take this second to emphasize that UNRWA is irreplaceable, and that no different entity has the flexibility to ship assist in Gaza on the scale and breadth required. Gaza wants UNRWA, particularly as humanitarian efforts intensify.
A couple of days in the past, I concluded a go to to Syria. Regardless of a long time of battle and sanctions inflicting untold struggling, I witnessed an inspiring dedication for a greater future. Our priorities for Syria are clear: we’re urgently working to make sure entry to essential emergency well being companies, whereas additionally supporting well being authorities of their restoration efforts, and dealing in the direction of rebuilding a stronger, extra resilient well being system. We’re dedicated to preserving progress and making certain methods that may stand up to future shocks.
In Sudan, the challenges of a extremely complicated humanitarian disaster persist. Even within the hardest of occasions, we’re actively working to include illness outbreaks. Because the final cholera outbreak was declared, we have now supported oral cholera vaccination campaigns throughout eight states, reaching 7.4 million individuals. We have now established cholera remedy models, arrange oral rehydration factors, and are actively conducting illness surveillance to stop the outbreak from escalating additional.
These essential interventions aren’t solely very important for the individuals of Sudan but in addition for safeguarding public well being throughout the Area and past. What occurs in our Area has far-reaching penalties for international well being safety. Strengthening the resilience of well being methods within the Jap Mediterranean stays a prime precedence, as it’s essential to making sure stability and stopping the unfold of well being crises past borders.
As we reply to humanitarian and well being emergencies throughout the Area, we’re additionally investing within the capability and coaching of our well being workforce, in step with my second flagship initiative. Subsequent week, we are going to launch a brand new collaborative middle for trauma in Qatar, providing hands-on, sensible coaching for surgical groups—together with surgeons, anesthetists, and nurses—to handle the wants of extreme trauma sufferers in battle settings. By this initiative, we intention to advertise state-of-the-art warfare surgical procedure practices throughout the Area.
Earlier than I shut, I wish to spotlight our Regional Well being Enchantment. To deal with pressing well being crises throughout Gaza, Syria, Sudan, and past, our Area requires $856 million. Funding shortfalls in 2024 have already led to devastating cuts to life-saving well being operations. We ask in your assist in amplifying our message—assist us save lives, restore well being methods, and convey hope to tens of millions.
Thanks.
