"CHOLERA"

The World Health Organization’s Chief said, “With the weather conditions and ongoing aftershocks, we’re in a race against time to save lives. People need shelter, food, clean water and medical care, for injuries resulting from the earthquake, but also for other health needs.” WHO

The full scale of the double earthquake disaster in Türkiye and Syria is still unfolding, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday, as they stressed the critical need to step up search and rescue efforts for victims and ensure that lifesaving aid reaches all those who need it. UNTV CH

Updating reporters on the situation in Ethiopia, a UN spokesperson said, “Since the Cessation of Hostilities agreement in mid-November, more than 127,000 tons of food have been brought into Tigray, reaching more than 3.8 million people.” UNIFEED

The World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General said today that COVID-19 remains a global health emergency, even though, as the world enters the fourth year of the pandemic, “there is no doubt we are in a far better situation now than we were a year ago, when the Omicron wave was at its peak.” WHO

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, told the Security Council that the scale of needs inside Syria is “at the worst level since the conflict began”. UNIFEED

WHO is launching its 2023 health emergency appeal today for US$ 2.54 billion to provide assistance to millions of people around the world facing health emergencies. The number of people in need of humanitarian relief has increased by almost a quarter compared to 2022, to a record 339 million. WHO

The number of reported disease outbreaks and climate-related health emergencies in the greater Horn Africa have reached their highest-ever level this century, deepening a health crisis in a region where 47 million people are already facing acute hunger. WHO

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that WHO still believes that COVID-19 deaths are "heavily underreported from China," reiterating the need for "doctors and those reporting to the public health system to be encouraged to report these cases and not discouraged.” WHO

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.