WHO expands Ebola preparedness across 22 nations amid conflict and displacement

The WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean region now includes 22 countries and territories across three continents. While no Ebola cases have been reported there yet, the area hosts more than 117 million people who depend on humanitarian assistance, including populations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Director‑General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the area the epicentre of global humanitarian need, stressing that conflict and displacement affect millions across Africa, Asia and Europe.

Between July and September, WHO teams visited Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan, the three priority states identified for intensified support. The missions evaluated national readiness in surveillance, laboratory capacity, infection‑prevention and case‑management, and identified gaps in emergency coordination. In response, WHO has supplied laboratory kits, traveler guidance and community‑engagement tools, while delivering training, technical assistance and simulation exercises. Regional readiness checklists, contingency‑planning templates and technical guidance have also been rolled out to strengthen coordination across the broader Eastern Mediterranean area. The agency also linked its efforts with health ministries across Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean to harmonise surveillance standards and share best practices.

Despite progress, WHO notes persistent shortfalls in early detection, laboratory confirmation and the availability of personal protective equipment. Conflict‑driven insecurity and restricted access further complicate response efforts, especially in countries already grappling with major humanitarian emergencies. The agency stresses the need for continued support to ensure national authorities and partners can rapidly detect, investigate and manage any suspected Ebola cases, thereby preventing a potential spill‑over from recent outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and a confirmed case linked to the DRC in Kenya. To bridge these gaps, WHO continues to distribute laboratory supplies, traveller guidance and community‑engagement resources while training local responders.