2 March 2016 – Today, the World Health Organization delivered urgently needed medicines to the besieged city of Mouadamieh, 10 km south of Damascus. “Today we were able to bring in antibiotics and painkillers, exactly what local health workers told me they needed a few days ago,” says Azret Kalmykov, WHO health cluster coordinator in Syria, after...

Photo courtesy of Translieu/David Mugithi29 February 2016 – At a landmark Ministerial Conference on Immunization in Africa held from 24 to 25 February, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, African Ministers of Health, Finance, Education, Social Affairs and local governments signed a declaration to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages...

19 February 2016 – It was another huge sigh of relief for the people in need in the 5 besieged areas of Madaya, Foah, Kafraya, Zabadani and Mouadamiya al-Sham as 100 aid trucks simultaneously delivered humanitarian assistance, including life-saving medicines and therapeutic nutrition supplies.  As part of the current interagency convoy, WHO...

17 February 2016 -- Despite facing significant challenges as a result of the ongoing conflict in Yemen, WHO continues to respond to the increasing health needs of millions of people across the country. Since the beginning of the crisis, WHO has reached more than seven million people in 23 governorates through the provision of medicines, medical supplies,...

17 February 2016 – WHO is appalled at the recent attacks on health care facilities in the Syrian Arab Republic. These attacks have resulted in at least 14 people being killed, including 4 health care workers, and have left many others severely injured. Our thoughts and condolences are with the families and colleagues of those killed and injured. On 15...

Mr Altaf Musani, WHO Representative in Iraq, Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, and Dr Adila Hamoud, the Minister of Health of Iraq11 February 2016, Baghdad, Iraq -- WHO and the Ministry of Health of Iraq, yesterday in Baghdad, reviewed and endorsed the 2-year cycle joint programme of cooperation between WHO and the...

Sana'a, 10 February 2016 — Following months of blocked access to Taiz City, Yemen, and in response to mounting emergency health needs, the World Health Organization (WHO) has successfully delivered more than 20 tonnes of life-saving medicines and medical supplies. These medical supplies are critical to meet the most urgent needs in a city where...

10 February 2016 – The World Health Organization welcomes the unprecedented support shown by countries participating in the "Supporting Syrians and the Region Conference" in London on 4 February, during which more than US$ 10 billion was pledged to provide humanitarian aid to people affected by the Syrian crisis over the coming 5 years. “Countries...

10 February 2016, Baghdad, Iraq: WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ala Alwan is meeting senior health officials from the Ministry of Health in Baghdad and local and international health partners to discuss a number of emerging health needs and challenges in the country. The Regional Director and Her Excellency the Minister of...

Cairo, 31 January 2016 -- As the Zika virus outbreak continues to spread reaching 24 countries in the Americas (as of 27 January),  WHO’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Ala Alwan is calling on governments to work together to keep the Region protected.   “Zika virus is spread by the Aedes mosquito, the same type of mosquito that...