The World Health Organization on Tuesday debated acting against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine after European members called a meeting to discuss reprisals targeting Moscow, measures which, if approved by members, could force the typically apolitical organization to take a more overt political stance.Key Facts
Forty three members of the WHO’s 53-country Europe region—which covers a wide geographic area and includes Israel, Russia and parts of Central Asia—called the meeting to The resolution also asks the WHO’s Regional Director for Europe, Dr. Hans Kluge, to suspend all regional meetings, conferences and seminars in Russia until the conflict is resolved peacefully and to relocate a major regional office to an area outside of Russia.
Moving the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, which is based in Moscow, would “safeguard the technical cooperation and assistance” it provides to all members, the resolution said.the WHO should “stick to the scope of its mandate” and not “politicize” healthcare.A vote. While the WHO ordinarily makes decisions by consensus, voting is allowed if consensus cannot be reached.3,000.
. At least 3,382 civilians have died—including 235 children—13 million displaced and 16 million in need of assistance, he said.Kluge said the direct impact of the war after two months is “appalling” and we have yet to “see the long-term health impacts of the war unfold.” Kluge said these long-term consequences include missed vaccinations, medicines shortages, health workforce burnout and an increase in sexual and gender-based violence.