In an era where the right to health stands at the crossroads of global challenges and aspirations, World Health Day 2024 emerges as a pivotal moment for collective reflection and action. Across continents, the health and well-being of millions are compromised, not merely by diseases but by a confluence of disasters, conflicts, environmental degradation, and systemic inequities that impair the very foundation of human rights.

In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, we are witnessing a constellation of protracted humanitarian emergencies that pose severe challenges to health and well-being. Past conflicts in Iraq, Syria, and Egypt and current conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Yemen have not only devastated infrastructures but have also led to the forced displacement of millions, weakening health system structures and catalyzing the re-emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases. This situation is compounded by the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, which have emerged as a leading cause of premature mortality in the region. Furthermore, with more than a quarter of the population in five countries living below the international poverty line, the health disparities are stark. Life expectancy in the Region, at an average of 69.1 years, and healthy life expectancy, at 59.7 years, lag behind global averages, reflecting the urgent need for concerted efforts to address these multifaceted health challenges.