WHO Seeks $1 Billion Amidst Escalating Global Health Crises

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a critical appeal for nearly US$1 billion to address 36 health emergencies across the globe in 2026, highlighting a dire need for sustained funding amidst escalating humanitarian crises. This appeal aims to provide essential healthcare services to millions affected by conflicts, climate change impacts, and disease outbreaks. The WHO's emergency operations in 2025 supported 30 million people, delivering life-saving vaccinations to 5.3 million children and enabling 53 million health consultations.

Among the 36 emergencies, 14 are classified as Grade 3, requiring the highest level of organizational response. These include protracted crises in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Haiti, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen. The DRC, for instance, is currently grappling with an expanding Ebola outbreak, with 676 confirmed cases and 136 deaths reported as of June 2026, exacerbated by population movement and a fragile health system.

The appeal comes at a time when global humanitarian funding is experiencing significant shortfalls, with overall aid in 2025 falling below 2016 levels. This reduction has already led to the closure or scaling back of services in thousands of health facilities across 22 humanitarian settings, depriving an estimated 53 million people of access to crucial healthcare. The WHO emphasizes that predictable and flexible funding is indispensable to prevent emergencies from escalating and to safeguard global health security.