WHO Eastern Mediterranean Seeks $6.42M to Sustain Health in Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti

As of 9 July 2026, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has issued an urgent financial appeal to prevent the collapse of essential medical services in three nations facing severe food insecurity and health crises. The funding request is a component of a larger US$ 25.4 million response package designed to mitigate the effects of the Greater Horn of Africa (GHoA) Food Insecurity and Health Crisis, which currently affects six countries across the WHO Eastern Mediterranean and African regions.

Escalating Health Risks in Somalia, Sudan, and Djibouti

The situation across the three targeted nations remains critical. In Somalia, more than 6.5 million people are experiencing Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of food insecurity. Within that population, 1.8 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition. Furthermore, more than 3.5 million people remain displaced, and funding shortages have forced the closure of over 200 health facilities, severely limiting access to essential care.

The health crisis is exacerbated by recurrent outbreaks of cholera/acute watery diarrhoea (AWD), measles, malaria, and other communicable diseases, which continue to place additional pressure on the already fragile health system. To address these challenges, the WHO is working with the Ministry of Health and partners to strengthen the management of severe acute malnutrition through nutrition stabilization centres. This work includes deploying mobile health teams, expanding disease surveillance, strengthening frontline health worker capacity, and pre-positioning essential medicines, diagnostics, and cholera supplies.

The most severe food insecurity and nutrition emergency in the GHoA is in Sudan. Nearly 19.5 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity, including 5 million people in IPC Phase 4 and 135 000 people facing catastrophic conditions (IPC Phase 5). Fourteen localities are currently affected by these extreme conditions.

Humanitarian Efforts in Libya

Separately, the WHO, with funding from European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), has launched a new humanitarian health project aimed at Sudanese refugees and vulnerable host communities in southern Libya. The 8-month project, titled Reducing morbidity and mortality among Sudanese refugees in Libya by increasing access to essential health and mental health services, will focus primarily on Alkufra, with additional support provided in Alghatroun.

Under this initiative, the WHO will deploy integrated mobile medical teams to deliver services to refugees living on remote farms, in informal settlements, and in other hard-to-reach locations. These teams are composed of general practitioners, gynaecologists, paediatricians, mental health specialists, and trauma doctors. They will be supported by trained community health workers tasked with conducting follow-up, health promotion, and community outreach.

The project intends to reinforce selected public health facilities to ensure that vulnerable populations, specifically women, children, persons with disabilities, people with chronic diseases, and individuals with reduced mobility, can access specialized care and diagnostics. Sudanese refugees in southern Libya continue to face serious barriers in accessing their basic right to essential health care services, particularly in underserved areas, said WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Libya Dr. Ahmed Zouiten. He added, This partnership with ECHO is more than just delivering medicine, it’s about restoring dignity. By taking mobile medical teams directly to remote farms and hidden settlements, we are making sure no one is left to suffer in isolation.

Sources: Panafricanvisions, emro.who.int.