WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on international donors to provide urgent funding for their health projects in this Arab nation.

Ghebreyesus explained that the recent contribution of 3 million dollars from the United Nations’ Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) helped extend life-saving medical care to more than half a million people.

The WHO chief noted that this contribution helped provide essential medical services, strengthen disease surveillance systems, and provide mental healthcare in the governorates most affected by displacement.

He clarified that the needs far exceed current resources and called on the international community to increase its support to avoid endangering the Syrians’ lives.

Recent reports from Doctors Without Borders state that 150 healthcare centers in Syria were closed due to US funding cuts and called for increased support to meet the humanitarian needs of approximately 7.2 million displaced people.

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