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101 health workers killed in Libya in the aftermath of Storm Daniel
2 October 2023, Tripoli, Libya – A staggering 101 health workers in Libya lost their lives during Storm Daniel or in its immediate aftermath. Some were killed at home, others in the line of duty. Families and coworkers have described their anguish and feelings of helplessness at seeing their relatives, friends and colleagues swept away by the...
WHO extends gratitude to the Government of Japan for life-saving support in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
1 October 2023, Cairo, Egypt – Today, Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, met with His Excellency Mr Oka Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to Egypt, to affirm the continued cooperation between WHO and Japan in responding to health crises across the Region. The Eastern Mediterranean Region faces myriad health...
Libya: “A disaster of epic proportions”
Two weeks after Storm Daniel struck Libya, the scale of the damage is almost indescribable. The floods that followed left in their muddy wake a humanitarian crisis on a massive scale, particularly in Derna. An estimated 30 million cubic metres of water came roaring through the city when 2 dams in the nearby mountains collapsed. The torrent of...
Humanitarians of the EMR: meet the heroes powering our emergency response
Episode 1 My name is Dr Fares Kady, and I currently serve as the head of the WHO sub-office in Aleppo, Syria. My journey began in the last century – when I volunteered with the Red Cross/Red Crescent in 1998 – then on to the international NGO field. I joined WHO in 2013. Two decades of experience in humanitarian work taught me that good...
Statement by the WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean at the press conference on RC70
25 September 2023 – 2023 has been unique in many ways. In May, WHO declared that COVID-19 was no longer a public health emergency of international concern. It remains a threat. Scientists continue to detect new strains and subvariants in circulation. But it is now one issue among many, to be managed alongside other infectious diseases and other...
Saving lives, preventing health risks and restoring health care services in the aftermath of the Libya floods
Tripoli, Libya, 22 September 2023 – In the wake of catastrophic floods that had a devastating impact on Libya's east coast, the World Health Organization (WHO) is taking swift action to assist affected communities. WHO is supporting urgent efforts to restore access to health care and control the spread of infectious diseases, especially among the...
Operations at WHO’s logistics hub in Dubai reach an unprecedented scale and impact, says new report
21 September 2023, Cairo, Egypt – WHO has released an innovative, interactive report that provides insights into the vast operations and global impact of WHO’s logistics hub in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The new report reveals the logistics hub’s impressive ability to provide support on an unprecedented scale, and its swift, adaptable response...
Faster progress on nutrition is the focus of regional meeting and new resource
19 September 2023, Amman, Jordan – Today is the first day of the intercountry meeting for nutrition focal points organized by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean. It also marks the launch of the Eastern Mediterranean Region food composition database, a joint initiative by Al-Quds University and the Regional Office. The meeting is...
WHO health supplies arrive in Libya as part of intensified response to devastating floods
WHO supplies arrived in Libya in response to the devastating floods 16 September 2023, Tripoli, Libya – Today, 29 metric tonnes of health supplies arrived in Benghazi, Libya, from the WHO Global Logistics Hub in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With enough supplies to reach almost 250,000 people with health aid, the shipment reflects an intensified...
World Patient Safety Day 2023
September 2023, Egypt – This year, World Patient Safety Day 2023 is being celebrated around the theme “Engaging patients for patient safety”, in recognition of the central role that patients, their families and caregivers play in advancing safe care, reducing harm and preventing avoidable deaths. With the slogan “Elevate the voice of patients", World...
