Khaberni - The World Health Organization announced today, Tuesday, its need for one billion dollars to deal with health crises in 36 regions around the world suffering from a health emergency, including Gaza, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Haiti.
The UN health agency estimated that 239 million people will need urgent health assistance this year and that the funding will help maintain essential health services.
According to France 24, the executive director of the organization's health emergency program, Chikwe Ihekweazu, told journalists in Geneva, "A quarter of a billion people live in humanitarian crises that deprive them of basic protective factors: safety, shelter, and access to health care".
He warned that under such conditions "health needs increase, whether due to injuries, outbreaks of epidemics and malnutrition, or untreated chronic diseases.. while access to care diminishes".
He said, unfortunately, the agency "realizes.. that the desire to mobilize resources has become much less than it was in previous years", adding "This is one of the reasons that prompted us to slightly adjust our request to be closer to what is realistically available, recognizing the situation in the world and the constraints faced by many countries".
He added, "Families living on the margins face impossible choices like choosing between buying food or medicine", emphasizing that "people should never be forced to make such decisions", and continued "For this reason, we appeal today to the conscience of nations and peoples, and call on them to invest in a healthier and safer world".
