Humanitarian Health Action

Donor centre

Donor contributions make it possible for WHO to provide technical assistance, medical supplies and coordination services during humanitarian emergencies. As the lead agency of the Health Cluster, WHO works with UN agencies, NGOs and other partners to address the needs of people in crisis in a comprehensive and coordinated manner. To continue our work and to increase our capacity, funding to both WHO's 'Five Year Plan to Strengthen WHO's Capacity for Humanitarian Health Action' and for the 'Consolidated Appeal' is vital.

News

  • 16 April 2012

    The Sahel suffers from chronic malnutrition. With the poor harvest and increasing food insecurity, there are serious concerns of a full-scale disaster this year. There are an estimated 20 million people living in vulnerable areas and 15.6 million of these people are affected by food insecurity. Malnutrition makes people, particularly children under five, weaker and more prone to disease. This crisis is further exacerbated because it is occurring in countries with very fragile health systems and services. WHO is calling for health interventions to urgently be scaled up, mainly in areas not yet covered, to complement on-going nutrition and food interventions. A total of US$ 14.2 million is required by WHO to cover the costs of the response operation over the next twelve months.

  • 13 March 2012

    The civil uprising in Syria started with public demonstrations on 26 January 2011. Following mass protests in Daraa two months later, the situation quickly developed into a nationwide uprising. Since then, there have been clashes between government and opposition forces in several cities including the indiscriminate shelling of urban residential areas by government forces.

Donor alerts

Philippines Tropical Storm Washi Donor Alert

Tropical storm Washi struck the Southern Philippines on 16 December 2011, leaving a trail of devastation in the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan on Mindanao island. The ensuing floods, which were almost tsunami-like in their impact, killed more than 1000 people, injured almost 2000, and affected over 640 000 others. Almost 50 000 people have taken temporary refuge in evacuation centres. More than a quarter of a million others are thought to be living either with relatives or in makeshift shelters. Of the US$ 28.5 million needed for the emergency response, WHO and health partners are seeking US$1 763 397 (6%) to meet the emergency health needs of around 300 000 people.


Guidelines for donors