Dr. Hanan Balkhi said the World Health Organization lacks sufficient funds to carry out its essential health work in the Eastern Mediterranean [1, 2].

This shortfall threatens the stability of public health initiatives in a region already struggling with systemic collapse. Without adequate resources, the organization cannot effectively mitigate the health crises stemming from prolonged instability.

Balkhi, the Regional Director for the World Health Organization in the Eastern Mediterranean, identified two primary drivers for the current financial gap [1, 2]. She said the withdrawal of funding from the U.S. has significantly impacted the available budget. This loss of support occurs as the organization attempts to navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.

Regional conflicts have further strained the situation by damaging health systems across the Eastern Mediterranean [1, 2]. These wars create an increased demand for medical intervention while simultaneously destroying the infrastructure required to deliver care. The combination of reduced international financial support and rising local needs has left the organization unable to meet its stated health objectives [1, 2].

Balkhi said the current financial state is insufficient to address the scale of the crisis. The organization must manage the immediate fallout of conflict, such as disease outbreaks and malnutrition, while lacking the long-term investment needed to rebuild shattered health networks [1, 2].

“The funds currently available to the World Health Organization are insufficient to carry out its work in the region.”

The funding gap highlights a growing tension between the WHO's global health mandates and the volatile nature of voluntary contributions from major powers like the U.S. When funding is withdrawn during periods of active conflict, the resulting vacuum prevents the transition from emergency relief to sustainable health system recovery, leaving millions of people in the Eastern Mediterranean vulnerable to preventable diseases.