26 May 2025
Thank you all for being here today.
It is always a pleasure to connect with ACANU—you know the issues and care deeply about the UN.
Let me begin with the World Health Assembly—particularly the Pandemic Accord—before turning to Gaza and Sudan.
WHA78 has delivered real breakthroughs for global health, despite a fraught international context.
The Pandemic Agreement? Adopted.
The Programme Budget 2026–2027? Endorsed.
The 20 per cent increase in assessed contributions? Approved.
The Investment Round? US$170 million in new pledges.
These are major wins for multilateralism.
In the wake of a once-in-a-century pandemic, countries came together to strengthen the global health architecture through a landmark accord.
Amid shrinking development aid, we:
reprioritized within a leaner budget,
strengthened burden-sharing across Member States, and
mobilized record voluntary contributions.
We have now secured 60 per cent of our base budget for 2026–27—a remarkable result in today’s financial climate.
I am proud to say that my Region, the Eastern Mediterranean, has played its part.
On the Pandemic Accord, EMR Member States successfully forged consensus on complex issues like pathogen access and benefit sharing, technology transfer, and equitable supply chains—ensuring the voice of our Region is heard.
And Egypt played a leading role in guiding the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body as a member of the INB Bureau.
But what does this Accord mean for Regions like ours―where countries grapple with health service provision amid conflict, fragility and displacement?
Put simply, the Pandemic Agreement offers a clear roadmap towards a more secure, equitable, and self-reliant future.
We must act decisively to implement its provisions—even before formal ratification. We have no time to