Regional Director opening remarks at EMRO press briefing
22 February 2024
Dear colleagues, ladies, and gentlemen,
Good afternoon from WHO’s Regional Office in Cairo, Egypt. I am honored to address you today as the newly appointed Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.
As I begin my tenure, I’m deeply aware of the profound challenges our Region is facing.
In Gaza, an entire population continues to face unimaginable violence and loss with nowhere left to flee, while levels of lifesaving-aid remain grossly insufficient. In Sudan, we are witnessing the world’s largest displacement crisis, as millions of people flee in search of safety within and outside the country. Recent earthquakes in Afghanistan, Morocco and Syria, floods in Libya and Pakistan, and an increasing surge in cases of cholera and dengue fever across the Region have only exacerbated the burden of health and humanitarian needs across the Region.
Health emergencies across the Region are increasing at a rapid rate. 13 of our countries are directly or indirectly impacted by conflict; last year we responded to 73 disease outbreaks – more than double the number in 2021; and over the past two years, 6 of the 10 deadliest natural disasters worldwide were in our Region.
Compounding this challenge are the disturbing realities of health care coming under increasing attack, and severe access restrictions and insecurity impeding our ability to reach some of the most vulnerable people in the Region with lifesaving interventions. Consequently, any fragile gains we have made in supporting health systems, advancing the health agenda, and preserving regional health security are at risk of setback. Too