On 23 January 2023, the World Health Organization will launch its Health Emergency Appeal 2023 in Geneva. The event will be live-streamed from this page.
From climate change to conflict, and from infectious disease outbreaks to soaring rates of malnutrition, the health and well-being of millions of people is under attack. As we enter 2023, the number of people in need of humanitarian relief has increased by almost a quarter compared to 2022, with a record 339 million people requiring urgent assistance – many of whom are at risk from disease outbreaks, nutritional crises, and lack of access to essential medical services.
WHO will launch its 2023 appeal to continue to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable during this unprecedented moment of intersecting emergencies. The rise in climate change-related disasters, the Ukraine conflict and its effects on food systems and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have created an alarming combination of threats to health globally.
WHO is launching its Health Emergency Appeal for 2023 to respond to the urgent needs of the most vulnerable for 54 ongoing emergencies including 11 Grade 3 emergencies. During the launch event, the priorities, challenges and opportunities for health in emergency and humanitarian responses will be presented.
LIVE STREAM
Overview of speakers
- Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization
- RT Hon Gordon Brown, WHO Ambassador, Global Health Financing and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2007-2010
- United States Agency for International Development
- Dr Nagham Hasan, gynecologist in Iraq, and regional winner of the Nansen award for the Middle East and North Africa
- Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme
- Dr Fiona Braka, Health Emergencies Operations Manager, WHO Regional Office for Africa
- Dr Iman Shankiti, WHO Representative a.i., Syria
- Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative, Ukraine