WHO Urges Sufficient Funding to Deal With Syria, Iraq Crises
NEW YORK (Press TV) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of the deteriorating health condition in Syria and Iraq due to lack of funds.
"We have now reached a level in which we are very worried of the possibility that we could not continue to offer services and support due to the scarcity of funding,” The WHO’s regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Ala Alwan, said on Tuesday.
"Ongoing developments have very negative effects on the public health, negatively affecting all health programs,” Ala Alwan was quoted as saying on the sidelines of the 16th World Conference on Tobacco and Health in the United Arab Emirates’ capital city of Abu Dhabi.
Alwan also warned of the possibility of a spread of infectious diseases as well as widespread chronic illnesses.
"The spread of diseases in Syria or Iraq will endanger all regional countries,” Alwan said, "The longer we wait, the more critical the situation becomes for those who need urgent, life-saving health services.”
Last month, the WHO appealed for one billion dollars in additional funding to help provide life-saving health services to millions in need in Syria, Iraq, the Central African Republic and South Sudan. More than half of the requested funds is needed for Syria alone.
Alwan said the situation in war-torn Syria is "very worrying,” due to a shortage of donor funds.
Referring to the disrupted aid programs by the donors, Alwan said, "There are major problems linked to the difficulty in reaching large sectors of the Syrian society to offer basic health services.”
According to a recent report by the UN, the country’s deadly violence, which began in March 2011, has driven nearly four million Syrians from their country since the beginning of the crisis, and internally displaced 7.6 million civilians.
Alwan also described the situation in Syria’s conflict-ridden neighbor, Iraq, as "alarming,” saying that USD 314.2 million is necessary for the Iraqi health sector to perform its role.
"Our efforts are hindered by insufficient funding,” the WHO official said.
A day after announcing that over five million people were in dire need of medical services in Iraq, Alwan also said, "We urge the international donor community to act immediately to allow us to continue our work.”
The ISIL Takfiri terrorists, who have overrun large swathes of the two neighboring countries, have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.
"We have now reached a level in which we are very worried of the possibility that we could not continue to offer services and support due to the scarcity of funding,” The WHO’s regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Ala Alwan, said on Tuesday.
"Ongoing developments have very negative effects on the public health, negatively affecting all health programs,” Ala Alwan was quoted as saying on the sidelines of the 16th World Conference on Tobacco and Health in the United Arab Emirates’ capital city of Abu Dhabi.
Alwan also warned of the possibility of a spread of infectious diseases as well as widespread chronic illnesses.
"The spread of diseases in Syria or Iraq will endanger all regional countries,” Alwan said, "The longer we wait, the more critical the situation becomes for those who need urgent, life-saving health services.”
Last month, the WHO appealed for one billion dollars in additional funding to help provide life-saving health services to millions in need in Syria, Iraq, the Central African Republic and South Sudan. More than half of the requested funds is needed for Syria alone.
Alwan said the situation in war-torn Syria is "very worrying,” due to a shortage of donor funds.
Referring to the disrupted aid programs by the donors, Alwan said, "There are major problems linked to the difficulty in reaching large sectors of the Syrian society to offer basic health services.”
According to a recent report by the UN, the country’s deadly violence, which began in March 2011, has driven nearly four million Syrians from their country since the beginning of the crisis, and internally displaced 7.6 million civilians.
Alwan also described the situation in Syria’s conflict-ridden neighbor, Iraq, as "alarming,” saying that USD 314.2 million is necessary for the Iraqi health sector to perform its role.
"Our efforts are hindered by insufficient funding,” the WHO official said.
A day after announcing that over five million people were in dire need of medical services in Iraq, Alwan also said, "We urge the international donor community to act immediately to allow us to continue our work.”
The ISIL Takfiri terrorists, who have overrun large swathes of the two neighboring countries, have forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.