WHO Releases $2 Million in Emergency Funds to Lebanon, Iraq and Syria

The World Health Organization released $2 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support health responses in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria; allocations include $1 million for Lebanon and $500,000 each for Iraq and Syria.

The World Health Organization said it released $2 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support health services in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria amid the wider Middle East crisis. The funds are intended to strengthen emergency coordination, trauma care, disease surveillance and the supply of essential medicines. The WHO has reported large-scale population movement, including more than 100,000 people relocated in Iran and up to 700,000 internally displaced in Lebanon. The agency announced specific country allocations in a statement. Key facts: - The WHO released $2 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to support the health response in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria. - Lebanon was allocated $1 million to strengthen emergency coordination through its Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, scale up trauma care, reinforce disease surveillance, and procure and distribute essential medicines and supplies; Iraq and Syria were each allocated $500,000 for emergency coordination, mass-casualty management, medicines and services for displaced populations. - The WHO reported significant population movements in the region and said support is essential to sustain frontline health workers and maintain critical care services, according to Regional Director Hanan Balkhy. Summary: The funding is intended to help sustain frontline health services and address immediate needs among displaced populations in the affected countries. Undetermined at this time.