Geneva, Feb. 4 (SANA) The World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday it needs $1 billion to respond to health emergencies in 36 regions worldwide, including Gaza, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti.
WHO Health Emergencies Programme Executive Director Chikwe Ihekweazu said in a statement in Geneva that about 250 million people are living in humanitarian crises that limit access to basic needs, including safety, shelter and health care.
“Under these conditions, health needs increase due to injuries, disease outbreaks, malnutrition and untreated chronic illnesses, while access to care diminishes,” Ihekweazu said.
The organization also called on its member states to continue increasing assessed contributions in order to reduce reliance on voluntary donations.
The WHO has faced budgetary pressure following the withdrawal of U.S. funding, which led to a reduction in senior management positions and a scaling back of some activities. The United States had been the organization’s largest contributor, providing about 18% of its total funding.
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