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Update on COVID-19 in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region
24 June 2021 – I would like to welcome you all to this virtual media briefing on the COVID-19 situation in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. We are glad to have with us today, Dr Hany Jokhdar, Deputy Minister of Health of Saudi Arabia, and Dr Ibrahim El-Ziq, WHO Representative in Saudi Arabia, to discuss the preparations for this year's hajj...
Statement on the renewal of humanitarian lifeline to millions of people in north-west Syria
Rome/Geneva/New York, 18 June 2021 – Millions of people are pressed up against the border in an active war zone in north-west Syria and remain in need of humanitarian aid to survive. The UN needs cross-border and cross-line access to reach those most in need. We call for the renewal of Security Council authorization for cross-border operations...
WHO opens country office in Kuwait
Kuwait City/Cairo/Geneva, 15 June 2021 – The World Health Organization (WHO) today opened a country office in Kuwait in a move set to strengthen its presence and cooperation with the Government to advance the health and well-being of the country’s population. The newly established office will enable WHO to work on the ground with national health...
WHO condemns attacks on hospital in Afrin, northwest Syria
13 June 2021 – The World Health Organization (WHO) forcefully condemns the attack on a hospital in Afrin, northwest Syria, on 12 June. According to reports, the hospital was struck by artillery shells on Saturday evening killing at least 13 people, including one physician, other health workers, and 2 children. Twenty-three (23) people were also...
A unified and whole-of-system approach necessary to make sure every child in Pakistan is vaccinated – WHO and UNICEF
Friday 12 June, Islamabad – WHO and UNICEF have applauded the Government of Pakistan’s continued efforts to eradicate polio. The United Nations agencies commended the concerted efforts made to make sure that vaccination programmes continued even during COVID-19 surges in the country. Both agencies urged greater solidarity and investment to...
WHO announces simple, easy-to-say labels for SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Interest and Concern
10 June 2021 - WHO has assigned simple, easy to say and remember labels for key variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, using letters of the Greek alphabet. These labels were chosen after wide consultation and a review of many potential naming systems. WHO convened an expert group of partners from around the world to do so,...
Update on COVID-19 in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region
9 June 2021 – As of 08 June 2021 (11:59 PM), the Eastern Mediterranean Region has reported 10 353 336 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 206 573 deaths. While the total number of cases has declined over the past 6 weeks and the number of deaths stabilized, 9 countries reported an increase in cases last week, compared to the previous week. These include...
WHO tri-regional policy dialogue seeks solutions to challenges facing international mobility of health professionals
8 June 2021 – In the context of collective efforts to address challenges of international mobility of health professionals, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the WHO Regional Directors for the Eastern Mediterranean, Europe and South-east Asia, Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, Dr Hans Kluge and Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh today initiated a virtual...
Statement on protection of health care in complex humanitarian emergencies
1 June 2021 – This year marks the ninth anniversary of World Health Assembly resolution 65.20 (2012) in relation to the protection of health care in complex humanitarian emergencies. With deep regret, we note that violence against health care personnel and attacks on health care continues to be reported, including incidents linked to the response...
More than 10 million cases of COVID-19 reported in WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region
Cairo, 31 May 2021 – More than 10.1 million COVID-19 cases and 202 121 deaths have been reported from 22 countries across WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Region since the first documented case on 29 January 2020. “This is a troubling milestone for everyone in our Region. Despite all our efforts over the past 16 months, we have not yet controlled the...
