Recent WHO burden of disease studies show that modifiable environmental risk factors are killing more than 1 million people in the Region annually, and causing about 24% of the total burden of disease. These lives could be saved and diseases prevented by implementing appropriate environmental health interventions. Such interventions exist and are proven to be cost effective. Table 1 provides country data on the burden of disease and the number of deaths due to modifiable environmental risk factors.
Table 1. Country data on burden of disease (%) and the number of deaths due to modifiable environmental risk factors
| Country | Burden of disease due to environmental risks (%) | Deaths due to modifiable environmental risk factors |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 33 | 176 800 |
| Bahrain | 14 | 400 |
| Djibouti | 24 | 2000 |
| Egypt | 17 | 88 700 |
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | 17 | 79 200 |
| Iraq | 22 | 87 200 |
| Jordan | 17 | 4500 |
| Kuwait | 14 | 900 |
| Lebanon | 17 | 5300 |
| Libya | 17 | 4900 |
| Morocco | 18 | 32 000 |
| Oman | 17 | 1400 |
| Pakistan | 22 | 318 400 |
| Gaza and West Bank | – | – |
| Qatar | 14 | 300 |
| Saudi Arabia | 20 | 21 000 |
| Somalia | 31 | 49 200 |
| Sudan (including South Sudan) | 24 | 97 000 |
| Syrian Arab Republic | 17 | 13 300 |
| Tunisia | 18 | 12 100 |
| United Arab Emirates | 14 | 1300 |
| Yemen | 26 | 50 500 |
| Total | 24 | 1 046 400 |
