About us

Search

The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean extends its greatest appreciation to all donors who have supported our work between the start of 2014 and mid-2015. In particular, WHO would like to recognize the following key partners in the Region.

	United States of America – United States Agency for International Development (USAID) USAID has widely supported WHO’s work across the region, in particular in the areas of polio eradication and outbreak and crisis response. For example in Syria, USAID’s support is enabling WHO to take precautionary measures against the spread of communicable diseases. https://www.usaid.gov/
	Islamic Republic of Pakistan The Government of Pakistan, in consultation with its international partners has developed and is currently implementing a comprehensive plan aiming at stopping polio transmission. As a nation, Pakistan has dedicated significant national resources towards the goal of complete polio eradication within its borders. http://www.pakistan.gov.pk/
	United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) OCHA is a major supporter of WHO’s work in outbreak and crisis response, particularly in Iraq. Through the support of OCHA, WHO has been able to increase access to essential health services in Iraq for not only internally displaced persons and refugees but also their host families. http://www.unocha.org/
	Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has focused its significant support of WHO in the Eastern Mediterranean Region on the goal of eliminating polio, particularly by providing both technical and operational assistance in Pakistan. http://www.gatesfoundation.org/
	Rotary International Many facets of WHO’s work to eliminate polio in the region have benefitted from Rotary International’s support. In particular, Rotary International has supported projects focusing on surveillance and provision of operational support. https://www.rotary.org/
	United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) CERF has facilitated WHO’s work in numerous crises in the Region. For example, CERF has enabled increased provision of medical services in Syria and improved support for people living with chronic noncommunicable diseases in Yemen. http://www.unocha.org/cerf/
	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – Department for International Development (DFID) DFID is a key supporter of WHO’s work as part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and has also invested significantly in strengthening health systems of countries affected by the Syrian refugee crisis. https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development
	Kingdom of Norway – Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) NORAD is also a key supporter of WHO’s work as part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. NORAD’s support was also vital in the establishment of the Palestinian National Institute of Public Health. http://www.norad.no/en/front
	United States of America – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) The CDC has made significant investments in expanding ongoing efforts to eradicate polio. The CDC’s support has also greatly strengthened the capacity of the region for surveillance of and response to seasonal influenza. http://www.cdc.gov/
	European Commission – Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) ECHO has been key for enabling WHO’s work in the area of outbreak and crisis response. In particular, ECHO has enabled strengthening of the health sector’s humanitarian response during the Syria crisis. http://ec.europa.eu/echo/
	State of Kuwait Kuwait has invested significantly in the area of outbreak and crisis response, in particular supporting emergency health operations for people caught up in the ongoing Syria crisis. http://e.gov.kw/sites/KgoEnglish/portal/Pages/PortalMain.aspx

WHO aims to enable effective collaboration for improved health outcomes across all levels and partners. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, this work is coordinated by the External Relations and Resource Mobilization programme. This programme works to strengthen key partnerships and engage new potential partners, collaborating with regional Member States, as well as key non-state actors and countries worldwide. Through this, WHO works to ensure sustainable funding for its core programmes and emergency humanitarian work across the Region and beyond.

Syria

The ongoing crisis in Syria has created a great need for humanitarian assistance. In response, WHO has issued a series of emergency appeals. These have enabled WHO being able to invest over US$ 85 million in health care for people in the Syrian Arab Republic in the last 2 years alone. Major backers of WHO’s work during the Syria crisis have been the United States of America and Kuwait. Thanks to their support, WHO has been able to deliver life-saving medicines and take measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.

Iraq

Iraqi children stand in front of a mobile medical clinic

In late December 2014, the first eight mobile medical clinics were flown into Iraq. Made possible by the support of the Government of Saudi Arabia, and coordinated by WHO together with the World Food Programme, these purpose-built vehicles were deployed immediately. Their presence will enable swift and cost-efficient healthcare delivery for displaced people in camps, informal settlements and urban areas across Iraq. Yet despite this achievement, funding for Iraq in 2015 remains scarce. As of August 2015, only 8% of the US $60.9 million required by organizations in the health sector had been received. Consequently over 80% of programmes supported by health partners in Iraq have closed, leaving almost 3 million people without access to health care services.

Lebanon

A group of smiling Syrian refugee children pose for the camera Lebanon, a country with a total population of around 4.8 million, is currently hosting more than 1.1 million Syrian refugees. This sudden increase in population has overstretched Lebanon's water, sanitation, housing and health care systems, with health implications for both refugees and the communities that host them. WHO is working alongside the Ministry of Public Health and other partners to protect the health of all those who reside in Lebanon. This vital work has been supported by key donors including Kuwait, which has donated over US $25 million to WHO under theSyria Refugee Reponse plan.

Yemen

A WHO surgical team operates in Haradh Hospital, Yemen Of the 26 million people in Yemen, more than 20 million were in need of humanitarian assistance as of August 2015. Amidst funding shortages and inaccessibility challenges, WHO has continued to support the Ministry of Health and its partners. For example, WHO has delivered over 181 tonnes of medicines and medical supplies for more than 3 million people, including for trauma care, noncommunicable diseases, and laboratory and blood banks. WHO’s response to the crisis in Yemen has been supported by partners including Japan, Russia, the Central Emergency Response Fund and Saudi Arabia. However, WHO has so far received only 20% of the estimated US$ 70 million required. Without rapid additional support, the health consequences for the people of Yemen could be devastating.

Somalia

WHO Regional Director Dr Ala Alwan walks through an camp for internally displaced people in Mogadishu, Somalia WHO's work in Somalia has been backed by numerous partners. UNICEF has provided both financial and operational support under the joint health and nutrition plan. Norway has provided significant support for polio eradication, which has been a key focus of WHO’s work in Somalia for many years. For example, the image above was taken in 2014, when the WHO Regional Director visited a camp for internally displaced persons in Mogadishu to observe the ongoing polio vaccination campaign. Sustained and coordinated effort from WHO, the Somali Government and numerous partner agencies has recently led to a landmark victory against polio in Somalia: on 11 August 2015, Somalia marked the one year anniversary of the last reported case of polio in the country.

{{{_source.title}}} {{#_source.showPrice}} {{{_source.displayPrice}}} {{/_source.showPrice}}

{{{_source.title}}} {{#_source.showPrice}} {{{_source.displayPrice}}} {{/_source.showPrice}}

Key partners

United States of America – United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Partnerships

Syria

Iraq

Lebanon

Yemen

Somalia

Partners