7 October 2021, Cairo ‒ As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean will be held virtually for a second year. Health ministers and high-level representatives of the 22 countries of WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region, along with partner organizations and civil society, will...

23 September 2021 – The Eastern Mediterranean Region, which I represent, covers 22 countries from northern Africa, across the Middle East and as far as parts of southern Asia.  It was beset by multiple crises even before the COVID-19 pandemic – and is home to 43% of people who need humanitarian assistance globally, and the source 64% of the...

19 September 2021, Beirut, Lebanon – We have just concluded a two-day visit to Beirut, Lebanon to reiterate our commitment to the people of Lebanon and express our solidarity and continued support. Since the Beirut port blast last year, the country and its people have slipped even further into despair. The current economic crisis has increased...

17 September 2021 – I join Dr Tedros in thanking you – the media – as well as all health workers, civil society, donors, UN sister agencies and health partners for the enormous efforts made, particularly over the past two years, to prioritize the well-being of people in Lebanon and ensure the continuity of health care delivery. Over the past two...

15 September 2021 – As of 12 September 2021, the Eastern Mediterranean Region has reported more than 15 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 278,000 deaths. Over the past few weeks, we have seen the overall number of cases and deaths in our Region decline, but the situation remains fragile and unpredictable. Since the beginning of the...

Kabul/Cairo, 30 August 2021 - A plane carrying WHO medicines and health supplies landed in Afghanistan today, 30 August, at 12:25 pm local time. This is the first shipment of medical supplies to land in Afghanistan since the country came under control of the Taliban authorities. “After days of non-stop work to find a solution, I am very pleased...

WHO’s Solidarity PLUS trial enters new phase to test 3 new candidate drugs for COVID-19  Cairo, 25 August 2021 – Seven countries in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region have enrolled to participate in the Solidarity PLUS clinical trial led by WHO. Solidarity PLUS will evaluate 3 potential drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 infections – artesunate, imatinib and...

Newly displaced people who have come to Kabul seeking safety are living in vulnerable and often unsanitary conditions exposing them to increased risk transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. As the Health Cluster lead, WHO is working with partners to ensure the delivery of a coordinated health response to the current emergency. 24...

Joint statement by WHO Regional Director for Eastern and Mediterranean Region, Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, and UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, George Laryea-Adjei A WHO-supported mobile health clinic caters to urgent health needs of newly displaced people arriving in Kabul @WHO Afghanistan KABUL/CAIRO/KATHMANDU,22 August 2021: “As humanitarian...

19 August 2021 – On this day, World Humanitarian Day, we stand together to pay tribute to humanitarians in Syria and worldwide. Every year, we take this critical moment to extend our deepest condolences to all those who have paid the ultimate price. We also express our immense gratitude to all those humanitarians working tirelessly to make a...