The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a grave warning regarding the deteriorating health conditions in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, attributed to increasing military conflicts, disease outbreaks, and severe food shortages, compounded by declining humanitarian funding.
According to the latest Health Emergencies Situation Report, Sudan is identified as the region’s most pressing humanitarian crisis, with 30.4 million individuals currently in need of assistance. The report also highlights that 13.5 million people have been displaced as ongoing hostilities continue to ravage the area.
WHO representatives expressed concern about the escalation of violence in the Middle East, which has disrupted recent efforts aimed at de-escalation and significantly jeopardized the safety of civilians while impeding humanitarian efforts. Recent strikes in Iran and the Gulf, along with continued assaults on commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz, have severely hindered medical supply chains and access to essential healthcare.
The situation is also dire in the Greater Horn of Africa, where more than 37.8 million individuals face acute food insecurity. The report indicates that Sudan, Somalia, and Djibouti are particularly affected, with nearly 26 million people in dire need.
To address these urgent health challenges, WHO has requested $6.42 million to support emergency health and nutrition initiatives across Sudan, Somalia, and Djibouti over the upcoming six months. This funding aims to sustain essential healthcare services, specialized nutrition care, and the pre-positioning of crucial medical supplies.
The organization underscored that conditions are increasingly critical across numerous conflict zones, including Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, and the occupied Palestinian territories. Funding shortages have already led to operational halts; for instance, over 260 health centers in Somalia have closed or limited services, affecting approximately 1.62 million people. In Yemen, budget constraints have diminished healthcare access for 8.4 million individuals.
WHO reported that its 2026 Health Emergencies Appeal for the Eastern Mediterranean requires $633 million, yet 40% of this funding has not been secured, jeopardizing emergency operations. The report also detailed 27 verified attacks on healthcare infrastructure in June alone, resulting in 10 fatalities and 75 injuries, with Lebanon registering the highest incidents.
Between January and June 2026, 369 attacks on healthcare facilities were documented across the region, amounting to nearly half of such incidents reported globally.
