The World Health Organization is requesting $1 billion to address the health crises of 2026
the World Health Organization launched an urgent international appeal for $1 billion in funding to ensure the continuity of its vital operations in the face of escalating health crises expected during 2026. This funding aims to provide medical and humanitarian support in 36 regions around the world classified as areas of "acute health emergencies".
Map of global health crises
The list identified by the organization included areas experiencing armed conflicts and complex humanitarian disasters, most notably the Gaza Strip, which is suffering from a near-total collapse of its health system, Sudan, which is facing the world's largest displacement crisis, the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is battling an outbreak of epidemics, and Haiti, which is experiencing a state of lawlessness that is affecting medical services.
In a press statement from Geneva, the WHO's Executive Director of Health Emergencies, Chikwy Ekezo, highlighted the scale of human suffering, saying: "There are nearly a quarter of a billion people living today under the weight of suffocating humanitarian crises, depriving them of their most basic rights to protection, safe shelter, and equitable access to health care.".
Needs are worsening amid dwindling resources
The UN official warned of a dangerous dilemma facing humanitarian work: health needs are increasing proportionally with ongoing conflicts and climate change, while access to medical care is shrinking due to funding shortages and the security risks faced by medical personnel. He indicated that the lack of necessary financial support could lead to the cessation of life-saving services for millions of vulnerable people, especially women and children.
International context and the importance of response
This demand comes at a time when the world is facing unprecedented health challenges that transcend geographical boundaries. The failure to control epidemics in conflict zones such as Congo or Sudan poses not only a local threat but also jeopardizes global health security as a whole, since infectious diseases can easily spread across borders amid displacement and forced migration.
Through this funding, the World Health Organization is providing essential medicines, supporting field hospitals, combating acute malnutrition, and strengthening epidemiological surveillance systems for the early detection of diseases before they become global pandemics. Investing in these areas is a proactive and necessary step to prevent the collapse of fragile communities, both in terms of health and the economy.
Experts emphasize that the cost of prevention and early response remains far less than the cost of dealing with health disasters after they have escalated, making the response to this international appeal a strategic and moral imperative for the international community to ensure the stability of global health security in 2026 and beyond.
