In a recent discussion panel at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH 2024) in Doha, Qatar, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) HE Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus spoke about the dire situation in the Gaza Strip, describing it as “hell” and one of the worst and most difficult situations in the world. He highlighted that 80 percent of the population in Gaza is suffering from constant displacement due to the ongoing Israeli aggression, with lack of safe places to seek refuge.
HE Dr. Ghebreyesus presented UN reports that painted a grim picture of the situation in Gaza, with over 43,000 individuals killed, more than 150,000 injured, and tens of thousands missing. He called on major influential countries to push for discussion and negotiation to establish an urgent political solution to end the war, emphasizing the need for the Israeli entity to understand the importance of resolving the conflict through peaceful and sustainable means. He also stressed the increasing targeting of relief workers and the health sector in Gaza and other conflict zones, and highlighted WHO’s recommendations on protecting health facilities.
The Director-General noted that 84 percent of health facilities in the Gaza Strip are out of service or completely destroyed, leaving the remaining facilities struggling to meet the increasing healthcare needs of the population. He denounced the collective punishment being practiced in Gaza and expressed the challenges of documenting the crimes and atrocities on the ground. HE Dr. Ghebreyesus also discussed his visit to the Sudan and the Chad-Sudan borders, where he witnessed the suffering of displaced refugees, particularly women and children, who have lost their homes and livelihoods due to war.
HE Dr. Ghebreyesus highlighted the need for humanitarian aid in Sudan, where half of the population requires assistance, and a quarter are displaced, leading to significant impacts on women, children, and families. He also warned about the escalating conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, and Ethiopia potentially leading to a nuclear war, emphasizing that the world is facing a critical turning point. Despite these challenges, the Director-General emphasized WHO’s efforts in combating and preventing diseases globally, citing the successful containment of the Ebola virus in the Congo amidst civil war.
In conclusion, HE Dr. Ghebreyesus reiterated the importance of investing in WHO as an investment in member states, emphasizing that state support is crucial to the organization’s ability to address global health challenges. He called for urgent action to address the humanitarian crises in conflict zones and underscored the need for peaceful resolutions to prevent further escalation of conflicts worldwide. The Director-General’s remarks shed light on the urgent need for international cooperation and support to address the complex health and humanitarian challenges facing populations in conflict-affected regions.
