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Any public health situation
endangering the life or health of a significant number of
people and demanding immediate action. An emergency
situation may result from a natural or man-made disaster or
a conflict or a combination of both. |
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Mandate
To reduce the health consequences of
emergencies, disasters, crises and conflicts, and minimize
their social and economic impact.
Millions of people in the
Eastern Mediterranean Region*
face threats to health because they are at
risk of being exposed to crises conditions.
The strategic goal of Emergency Preparedness
and Humanitarian Action (EHA) is to support
communities and health stakeholders as they
prepare for, and respond to the health
aspects of acute and long-term crises so as
to minimize preventable suffering and death
and open the way to the recovery of
sustainable healthy livelihoods.
*Afghanistan,
Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Islamic
Republic of Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Oman,
occupied Palestinian territory, Pakistan,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian
Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab
Emirates, Yemen.
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Current Crises in the Eastern
Mediterranean Region |
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 Afghanistan
18 January -- No or little snow has been reported in
most parts of Afghanistan as of 18 January, which has
prompted some to voice concerns about drought. This is an
added threat to the expanding and intensifying conflict and
fiercely cold conditions that are exacerbating the health
crisis facing millions of Afghan children, women and men.
The current winter has witnessed a marked increase in cases
of acute respiratory infections, some of which are cases of
pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza. WHO and Health Cluster
partners are supporting health services in many parts of the
country, as well as advocating for the neutrality and
impartiality of health facilities and workers.
UN Special article
More information on Afghanistan
WHO Country Office in Afghanistan website
Afghanistan Humanitarian Action Plan 2010 |
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 Darfur
15 January -- Delivery of essential health
services to hundreds of thousands of people in Darfur
remains severely threatened due to the volatile security
situation, difficult access and the withdrawal of UN and
NGO staff. WHO and health partners are delivering a
substantial portion of humanitarian assistance to
ensuring life-saving hospital interventions in IDP camps
and host communities, especially to mothers and
children, providing water and health services to
vulnerable populations to prevent disease outbreaks and
ward off malnutrition.
WHO Country Office in Sudan website
More information on Sudan
2010 Work Plan for Sudan |
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 Djibouti
20 January -- The ongoing drought, compounded
by the soaring food and fuel prices, general poverty and
intermittent conflict in some areas, is having a serious
impact on water availability and nutrition, affecting at
least 350,000 people. Malnutrition is rising, as is the
population’s vulnerability to both non-communicable and
communicable diseases as well as to maternal and child
heath. Global acute malnutrition for children under five
is 17%, reaching 25% in parts of the north-west region.
Growing unavailability of safe water is increasing
waterborne diseases and cases of cholera have been
reported.. The combination of malnutrition, diarrhea and
acute respiratory infections is highly prevalent in
children. The risk of a malaria outbreak and other
vector born diseases remains quite high. WHO is
supporting the most vulnerable populations in remote
areas through mobile health clinics, providing
life-saving medical intervention and disease and
nutrition surveillance.
WHO Country Office in Djibouti website
Drought Appeal |
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 Iraq
20 January -- Rampant insecurity
and difficult access to people in need of health
services are seriously affecting the health of 3.2
million people in Iraq, of whom 2.8 million are
internally displaced (IDPs). Drought is limiting the
water supply, intensifying vulnerability to and outbreak
of water-borne disease. As delayed evacuation and
ambulance care remain the leading causes of death, WHO
is supporting the Ministry of Health in providing
life-saving substantial trauma care and managing/
controlling communicable disease risks including
measles, water-borne diseases such as typhoid, diarrheal
diseases and vector-borne diseases such as cholera.
WHO Country Office in Iraq website
More information on Iraq
Iraq Humanitarian Action Plan 2010 |
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 occupied
Palestinian territory
20 January -- Flooding in Central Gaza on 18
January displaced at least 500 people, the vast majority
of whom are registered refugees. Up to 7 people in the
affected areas sustained minor injuries and were given
prompt medical treatment. This comes at a time when the closure
of the Gaza Strip is putting the health of Gazans at
risk and gravely undermining the functioning of the
health care system. One year after Israel’s military
offensive on Gaza, hospitals and primary care
facilities, damaged during operation ‘Cast Lead’, have
not been rebuilt because construction materials are not
allowed into Gaza. The closure of the Gaza strip is
further hampering the provision of medical supplies,
training of health staff and preventing patients with
serious medical conditions getting timely specialized
treatment outside Gaza.
WHO Country Office in oPt website
More information on oPt
Consolidated Appeal for occupied Palestinian territory
2010
WHO press release – 20.1.2010
English
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Arabic |
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 Pakistan
12 January -- Insecurity has forced more than 430 000 people
from South Waziristan and Orakzai Agency, giving rise to a
range of health threats due to the large population
displacement and weakened health services. WHO and Health
Cluster partners are providing a wide range of health
services to support Pakistani efforts to meet health needs.
Medicines for more than 300 000 people have been provided to
treat emergency cases, diarrhoeal diseases and support
maternal health.
Situation report - 8 January 2010
More information on Pakistan
WHO Pakistan Health Cluster Response website
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 Southern
Sudan
15 December 2009 --
According to recent reports, over 350,000-450,000 people have been
displaced in Western Equatoria State (WES) and Central
Equatoria State (CES) since December 2008 resulting from the
Lord Resistance Army rebel group’s campaign of terror. Along
with another 16 000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of
the Congo (DRC), most internally displaced persons (IDPs)
have settled in camps in Yambio and Yei counties.
Situation report - 15 December 2009 (Arabic)
(French)
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 Syrian
Arab Republic
20 January -- At least 1.3 million inhabitants of
eastern Syria have been affected by drought, out of which
803,000 have lost their livelihoods and 500,000 have been
displaced. Malnutrition is increasingly prevalent among
people in these remote and difficult to access areas.
Stunting in these areas has been as high as 35% and rates
for underweight (reflecting acute malnutrition) are peaking
at 23%. The resulting water stress has spelt doom for the
quality of water, increasing outbreak risk of waterborne
diseases by almost six-fold in some areas. Diarrheal and
respiratory diseases have also been on the rise in the
affected areas.
WHO
Country Office in Syrian Arab Republic website
Syria Drought Response Plan 2009 |
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