WHO recently inaugurated its European Centre for Preparedness for Humanitarian and Health Emergencies in Istanbul, Turkey’s biggest city.
The new facilities will focus on responses to humanitarian crises in the European Region, prevention of/and response to emergencies as well as risk management and capacity-building in the context of COVID-19.
Hosted by the Government of Turkey, the centre will serve as the regional hub of excellence for emergency preparedness and provide technical expertise to improve capacity-building and operationalize selected International Health Regulations (2005).
Working together with governments and other partners, including academic and research institutions across the region, the centre will also seek to strengthen intergovernmental partnerships and community resilience, and facilitate institutionalization of state-of-the-art evidence and best practices within and between Member States. This will be achieved through training, simulations and conducting applied research in the area of health emergencies and disaster risk management, aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030).
It will play a key role in the response to COVID-19 in the region.
WHO thanks all donors and partners who have contributed to fund the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan to combat COVID-19. A special appreciation goes to Member States and other contributors who provided flexible funds, making it possible for WHO to deliver a coherent, strategic and broad response.