29 January 2025 Good afternoon to all journalists and media representatives, and thank you for your continued efforts to shed light on the humanitarian and health situation in our Region — home to some of the most vulnerable people on the planet today. For the first time since I took office, we find ourselves in a moment of fragile hope. A...

Cairo, Egypt, 30 January 2025 – On the occasion of World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging governments, leaders, communities and individuals to unite, act and eliminate NTDs through bold, sustainable investments. This call is especially important for the estimated 1.5 billion people living...

23 January 2025, Cairo, Egypt – Under the auspices of H.E. Dr Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population of Egypt, the Presidential Initiative on Women’s Health convened a high-level dialogue today at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Cairo. The event brought together national, regional, and global leaders to...

19 January 2025, Jerusalem, Cairo, Geneva – The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomes the Gaza ceasefire, hostage and prisoner release deal, which brings hope for millions of people whose lives have been ravaged by the conflict. The health challenges ahead are immense. The entire population of Gaza has faced multiple displacements. More than...

On 15 January 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, under the leadership of Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy, will host a landmark meeting of the Regional Health Alliance (RHA) at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Cairo, Egypt. Bringing together over 80 participants from the 18 UN organizations in the...

28 December 2024 - WHO is appalled by yesterday’s raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital, which put the last major health facility in North Gaza out of service. The systematic dismantling of the health system and a siege for over 80 days on North Gaza puts the lives of the 75,000 Palestinians remaining in the area at risk. Initial reports indicate that...

23 December 2024, Aden, Yemen – Yemen bears the highest burden of cholera globally. The country has experienced persistent cholera transmission for many years, including the largest outbreak – between 2017 and 2020 – recorded in recent history. As of 1 December, Yemen had reported 249 900 suspected cases of cholera, with 861 associated deaths...

Thousands of civilians require reconstructive surgeries and physical rehabilitation. All but one hospital are gradually reopening, while most are not operating at full capacity. 20 December 2024, Beirut, Lebanon – The ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities took effect on 27 November, offering temporary relief for the millions of civilians...

17 December 2024, Cairo, Egypt – In a significant step towards improving access to essential medicines, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean have signed a Memorandum of Arrangement (MoA) to establish a pooled procurement mechanism for public health supplies in the Eastern...

Wednesday, 18 December 2024 – The theme of this year’s International Migrants Day – Honouring the Contributions of Migrants and Respecting Their Rights – helps remind us of the positive contributions migrants make to the societies and countries that host them, the challenges they face in achieving their full potential and capabilities, and the...