WHO calls for greater protection of health and humanitarian workers on World Humanitarian Day 2026

On World Humanitarian Day 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a global call for increased protection for civilians, health workers, and humanitarian personnel, and an end to impunity for attacks against them. The WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region is particularly affected, accounting for nearly 50% of global attacks on healthcare and over 80% of associated deaths this year, with more than 117 million people in the region requiring humanitarian assistance in 2026.