Global Health Emergency: WHO Requests $30.3 Million to Maintain Medical Care in Middle East Amid Ongoing Conflict

The World Health Organisation has initiated a $30.3 million flash appeal to bolster emergency health interventions in conflict-affected nations across the Middle East, as escalating violence puts millions of lives at risk.

n

This appeal, effective from March to August 2026, aims to address critical health needs in Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Jordan, where health systems are reeling under intense pressure due to heightened hostilities, mass displacement, and a surge in casualties.

n

According to the WHO, the region has witnessed the displacement of over 4.3 million people, with thousands killed and tens of thousands injured, thereby imposing an unprecedented burden on already fragile health systems.

n

Hospitals and frontline health facilities are grappling with a surge in trauma cases while struggling to maintain routine services, the organisation noted, warning that essential healthcare services, including treatment for chronic illnesses, maternal care, and child health, are increasingly vulnerable to disruption.

n

The agency has also expressed concerns about deteriorating public health conditions, citing damaged water systems, overcrowded shelters, and declining immunisation coverage as factors that heighten the risk of disease outbreaks.

n

To mitigate the growing crisis, the WHO plans to utilise the funds to prioritise trauma and emergency care, ensure continuity of essential health services, and strengthen disease surveillance and early warning systems.

n

The organisation is collaborating closely with ministries of health, UN partners, and humanitarian organisations to guarantee a timely and coordinated response, it stated.

n

Additionally, the WHO intends to reinforce supply chains and logistics to ensure the delivery of critical medicines and medical equipment, particularly given the disruption of traditional transport routes.

n

The response will also support countries in managing mass casualty incidents and enhancing preparedness for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear risks, while strengthening emergency coordination systems.

n

This appeal follows the WHO's earlier release of $2 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to initiate urgent health interventions, including $1 million for Lebanon and $500,000 each for Iraq and Syria.

n

However, the agency has cautioned that the scale of the crisis is outpacing available resources, noting that the escalation comes at a time when humanitarian funding is tightening globally, even as health needs continue to grow rapidly.

n

Without additional funding, the gap between needs and available services will widen significantly, the WHO warned, underscoring the urgent need for sustained international support to prevent further deterioration of health conditions across the region.