WHO allocates $500,000 to support health response in Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Sunday the allocation of US$500,000 in emergency funds to support the health response in Syria, as humanitarian needs rise amid ongoing regional instability and population displacement.
The funding is part of a broader US$2 million emergency package released by the organization’s Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE) to support health responses in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq.
According to WHO, more than 104,300 people who recently crossed from Lebanon have arrived in Syria, increasing pressure on already fragile health services.
In northeastern Syria, the situation remains particularly fragile, with more than 116,900 internally displaced people living across 165 communities, many of whom require continued access to essential healthcare services, the WHO noted in a statement.
The allocated funds will support the procurement and distribution of essential medicines and medical supplies, ensure access to life-saving health services for displaced populations, and strengthen disease surveillance systems to detect and respond to potential outbreaks.
WHO said the emergency financing mechanism allows the organization to rapidly deploy funds during crises while additional donor contributions are mobilized.
“Escalating conflict in the Middle East is intensifying demands on health systems,” said WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, noting that sustaining frontline health workers and maintaining critical care services remains essential during the crisis.
The organization warned that rising humanitarian needs across the region require increased international support, as funding for health emergency responses remains insufficient.