18 March 2025
Colleagues, members of the press,
Good afternoon.
Thank you for joining us today.
Before I begin my briefing, I would like to mention that the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal recently launched a two-part series focused on Gaza.
The first issue explores the war’s impacts on health, offering scientific evidence, practical recommendations for policy, advocacy, and interventions, and provides a foundation for future research.
The second issue will be published in April.
I encourage you all to read it on the EMHJ website.
This morning, there is concerning news of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, with unconfirmed reports indicating that hundreds have been killed. I echo the Humanitarian Coordinator in his call for an end to hostilities, sustained humanitarian assistance, release of the hostages and the restoration of basic services and people’s livelihoods. This is the only way forward.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This is my second Ramadan as WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.
I hope that the Blessed Month meets you in health and wellness. I know, for many in our Region, that is not the case this year.
As we approach the Eid al-Fitr holidays, there will be little to celebrate for the millions of men, women and children caught up in the countless crises that afflict our part of the world.
An estimated 110 million people need urgent assistance, accounting for one third of the global humanitarian burden.
WHO is currently responding to 16 graded emergencies across the Region, including seven complex humanitarian crises and 50 disease outbreaks, while also monitoring 61 other public health events.
Six of these