Statement by Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director at the Director-General’s Press Conference

5 March 2026

Dear Director General, dear excellencies ministers of health and dear colleagues,

The situation across the Eastern Mediterranean is escalating rapidly, with serious consequences for civilians and health systems.

Across the region, more than 1000 people have reportedly been killed and 7000 injured.

One of our most serious concerns is attacks on health care.

In the past week, WHO has verified 13 attacks on health care in the Islamic Republic of Iran and one in Lebanon.

In Lebanon, evacuation orders have forced the closure of 43 primary health care centres and two hospitals. Violence has also affected first responders, with paramedics killed and injured.

At all times and in all places, health workers, patients and health facilities must be protected-even in war.

Last year, WHO's Global Health Emergencies Logistics Hub in Dubai fulfilled more than 500 emergency orders for 75 countries across all six WHO regions.

However, humanitarian health supply chains are now being jeopardised.

The Hub's operations are temporarily on hold due to insecurity, airspace closures and restrictions affecting access through the Strait of Hormuz.

This disruption is preventing access to US$18 million in humanitarian health supplies, while another US$8 million in shipments cannot reach the hub.

More than 50 emergency supply requests from 25 countries are currently affected. US$6 million in medicines for Gaza and US$1.6 million in polio laboratory supplies are also held up.

Half of global humanitarian needs are concentrated in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

We are coordinating the health response across affected countries, supporting ministries of health and partners to sustain essential services, as well as strengthening disease surveillance and preparing for potential mass casualties and displacement.

WHO is also pre-positioning trauma supplies and essential medicines, supporting countries to maintain critical public health functions, as well as scaling readiness for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear risks.

Yet our emergency operations across the Region currently face a 70 per cent funding gap. Without urgent financial support, essential services will cease-and preventable suffering will deepen.

WHO remains committed to doing all we can for the people of the Region.