The World Health Organization and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre signed an agreement on Tuesday to support over one million people in Gaza. The $10 million agreement will enable access to life-saving emergency health services for over one million individuals in Gaza.
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO’s Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Region, highlighted the strategic and coordinated response to meet Gaza’s urgent health needs. She mentioned that the generous commitment from the Centre would allow WHO to continue strengthening the health system and ensuring that those displaced by the ongoing violence receive life-saving healthcare.
The 12-month project will support 30 primary healthcare centers, 10 hospitals, and ambulances across Gaza with essential medicines, medical supplies, single-use items, and fuel. Nearly one million internally displaced individuals and those living in areas served by the targeted health facilities will benefit from this project.
Recent hostilities have overwhelmed Gaza’s health system, exacerbating challenges such as shortages of basic services, clean water, food, and fuel. In just four months, nearly 28,000 people have been killed, and about 67,000 have been injured, with over 1.7 million people displaced, most living in overcrowded shelters. The situation has hindered ambulance access, disease monitoring, and led to increased infectious disease outbreaks due to inadequate water and sanitation.
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre is committed to alleviating the suffering of those affected by emergencies across the region. Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of the Centre, noted the unprecedented levels of humanitarian and health deterioration in Gaza.
Saudi Arabia, represented by the Centre, will continue to support WHO’s efforts to provide urgent health services to those in need in Gaza. The agreement was signed by Eng. Hamad Al-Biz, Assistant Supervisor General for Operations and General Programs at the Centre, and Dr. Abdullah Al-Moallem, Director of Health Aid at the Centre.
WHO’s implementation plan for Gaza focuses on maintaining essential health services, supporting hospitals and primary health centers with medical supplies, coordinating the deployment of emergency medical teams, establishing temporary field hospitals, enhancing referral pathways, and supporting public health surveillance and disease prevention and control.
The plan targets priority areas for health and nutrition in line with the UN’s urgent appeal, emphasizing the immediate need to purchase and distribute essential health supplies to address the crisis in Gaza.
WHO, as the lead agency for the Health Cluster, is collaborating with partners, including health authorities and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), to continue delivering health services through effective supply chain management.
Dr. Balkhy added that despite the severe constraints on humanitarian and health responses in Gaza, WHO and partners remain committed to reaching all those in need with critical aid, emphasizing the need for continued access to the sector and an end to hostilities for a long-term recovery and wellbeing.
The partnership between WHO and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre has a long history of addressing crises in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. In 2022-2023, WHO implemented projects funded by the Centre in three emergency-affected countries (Yemen, Iraq, and Somalia) with contributions exceeding $26 million.
