Good morning, good afternoon and good evening,
WHO welcomes the extension of the humanitarian pause in the conflict in Gaza, and the release of hostages and prisoners by both sides.
The pause has enabled WHO to increase deliveries of medical supplies in Gaza, and to transfer patients from Al-Shifa hospital to other hospitals south of the Wadi Gaza.
During the first three days of the pause, WHO received 121 pallets of supplies into our warehouse in Gaza, including IV fluids, medicines, lab supplies, medical disposables, and trauma and surgical supplies.
This is enough to support about 90 000 people.
However, much more is needed.
We continue to call for a sustained ceasefire so that aid can continue to be delivered to end further civilian suffering.
And we call for the remaining Israeli hostages to be released, and for those who are still being held to receive the medical care they need.
WHO’s greatest concern remains supporting Gaza’s health system and health workers to function.
Only 15 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are still functioning at all, but are completely overwhelmed. For example, European Gaza Hospital is currently operating at triple its capacity.
Of the 24 hospitals north of the Wadi Gaza before the conflict began, only three are functioning at the most basic level, but they lack fuel, water and food.
The remaining health system capacity must be protected, supported and expanded.
The health needs of the population of Gaza have increased dramatically, but they are now being serviced by one third of the hospitals and primary care clinics.
And with severe overcrowding, the risks are increasing for epidemics of respiratory tract infections, acute watery diarrhea, hepatitis, scabies, lice and other diseases.
WHO is working to support Gaza’s health system and health workers in every way we can.
Together with partners, we are distributing supplies, coordinating emergency medical teams to provide extra clinical capacity for existing hospitals, and establishing standalone field hospitals in strategic locations.
We thank those partners who are working with us.
But we repeat that emergency medical teams and field hospitals can only complement Gaza’s health system, not replace it.
The priority must be to support Gaza’s health workers, hospitals and clinics to do their jobs.
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This week, the world is converging in the United Arab Emirates for COP28, the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, about 3.5 billion people, nearly half of humanity, live in areas highly vulnerable to the climate crisis.
This year alone, catastrophic flooding in Libya and the Horn of Africa has cost lives and livelihoods, and just this week Brazil hit record temperatures.
An unhealthy planet means unhealthy people.
Heat-related deaths among people aged over 65 years have climbed by 70 percent globally in two decades.
Every year, 7 million people die from air pollution.
Changing weather patterns, driven by human activity and the burning of fossil fuels, is contributing to record numbers of cholera outbreaks.
And our warming planet is expanding the range of mosquitoes, which carry dangerous pathogens like dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever into places that have never dealt with them before.
The climate crisis is a health crisis.
So we’re pleased that for the first time, this year’s COP will include a day dedicated to health, with more than 50 health ministers attending from around the world.
While at COP, I will make three specific calls:
First, a climate-friendly world.
WHO calls on leaders from government and industry to work together to phase out fossil fuels urgently, and accelerate the transition to clean energy.
Fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – are by far the largest contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.
Weaning the world off fossil fuels is therefore the only way for countries to meet their commitment to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is a public health imperative.
Second, climate-friendly health systems.
While the health sector is affected by climate change, it also contributes to it, with about 5% of global emissions.
We must focus on decarbonizing health systems to reduce that.
At the same time, we must continue to strengthen health systems to be more climate-resilient.
That means strengthening the health workforce and disease surveillance systems, building on investments that many countries made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
And it means scaling up vector control and access to safe water and sanitation.
Third, finance.
The health sector is at the frontline of the climate crisis, but it receives just half of one percent of global climate financing.
The world spends trillions of dollars of public moneys in fossil fuel subsidies every year.
We call on governments and investors to redirect those funds to protecting and promoting the health of our planet, and the health of people.
And we request high-income countries to honour their pledge of US $100 billion in support.
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Finally, this Friday marks World AIDS Day.
This year’s theme is “Let Communities Lead”. It affirms the vital role that affected communities play in leading the response to HIV.
Thanks to decades of activism, advocacy, and support from affected communities, millions of new infections have been averted and 30 million people are now receiving antiretroviral therapy.
As prevention and treatment services for HIV are increasingly delivered in community and primary health care settings, communities and community health workers are even more critical.
We must stand together to ensure communities have the funding and resources they need to stand up for human rights, to fight stigma, and to help us end AIDS for good.
I thank you.
Margaret, back to you.
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Update: This speech was updated on 29 November to correct the number of hospitals north of the Wadi Gaza from 25 to 24.