Al-Ghabbash: The world has lost its moral compass due to its failure to impose ceasefire in Gaza

Geneva-SANA – The work of the 154th session of the WHO Executive Board held in Geneva, Switzerland, with Syrian participation, will continue until Jan 27^th.

“The region has suffered from multiple emergencies over the past period and last year was the worst ever as a result of earthquakes. The horrific disaster that struck Afghanistan, Morocco, and Syria claimed thousands of lives. Floods also swept through Libya, and drought struck Somalia, causing tens of thousands of deaths among children, which could have been avoided”, mentioned a statement read by Syria on behalf of the member states of the Eastern Mediterranean Region regarding the organization’s work in the field of health emergencies, read by the Minister of Health, Hasan al-Ghabbash.

Al-Ghabbash added that WHO documented 73 disease outbreaks during the past year, which is double the number that was documented during the year 2021, in an ongoing continuation of disease outbreaks and epidemics of measles, cholera, and dengue fever, adding “this matter is nothing but a reflection of the deterioration of health systems due to conflicts and the fragility of countries not to mention the climate change.

The most worryingly crises at the present time are what the occupied Palestinian territories are witnessing, and what Sudan is experiencing, as relief workers in Gaza are witnessing the harshest and most severe conditions with the escalation of violence, while aid agencies are struggling to provide assistance, thus more than 23,000 Gazans have lost their lives while some 50,000 people were injured. Besides events in Sudan led to the displacement of a large number of people”, al-Ghabbash went on to say.

“The world lost its moral compass when it failed to impose a permanent ceasefire in these two wars “, Al-Ghabbash added, noting that the world should feel ashamed of the heroic courage and great sacrifices shown by health workers on the front lines in Gaza, Sudan, and other places.

The Health Minister  hailed the effectiveness of the response of the WHO and member states, noting that this response is not sufficient without political solutions, peace processes along with measures on climate action, health security and commitment to common humanity.