A dire Ramadan for those living in the shadow of conflict

In Syria, 14 years of war have left 90% of the population living in extreme poverty. Forced to flee their homes, millions of Syrians have sought refuge in camps and makeshift shelters where food, clean water and health care are scarce. A once-thriving, vibrant society has been decimated.  

In Lebanon, 1.59 million people face acute food insecurity. The health system faces significant challenges as the country grapples with a complex humanitarian crisis exacerbated by the economic downturn and the impacts of the recent conflict.

In Yemen, 19.6 million people need health support but struggle to obtain essential health services. Children and women make up more than three-quarters of those in need. Less than 40% of Yemenis can access safe drinking water and basic sanitation, which makes the overall population highly vulnerable to preventable diseases.

Yemen currently accounts for 13% of all cholera cases reported worldwide. Half of all children under the age of 5 are acutely malnourished. Around 70% of three- and four-year-olds have not received a full course of vaccinations.

Destroyed healthcare system

Meanwhile, in Gaza, only half of the hospitals are partially operational, and a quarter of the 110,000 maimed people are struggling with life-changing injuries. Nearly 14,000 critically ill people — including 2,500 children —require immediate evacuation. The transmission of infectious diseases has skyrocketed, malnutrition is rising, and the risk of famine looms.

And in Afghanistan, 14 million people have little or no access to health services, one-third of the population faces acute food insecurity, and 7.8 million children and women need emergency nutrition assistance to avoid death and disease.

These are the circumstances in which Ramadan is taking place this year. In this time of overwhelming need, the World Health Organisation is delivering critical health assistance in some of the most dangerous and disadvantaged parts of the region. We provide medical supplies, support hospitals, and ensure that life-saving treatments reach those who need them most.

WHO's work under threat

But this work is under threat. The recent announcement that the United States intends to withdraw from WHO will have a significant impact on the organisation's ability to respond to health crises around the world, particularly in conflict zones where fragile health systems are already struggling to cope.

The United States has been a key partner in WHO's efforts to combat disease outbreaks, strengthen health systems and provide emergency health services. Its withdrawal would leave a massive funding gap in the global response to health emergencies, and the impact would be felt most acutely in regions like ours.

WHO is ready to engage with the US to sustain our strong, decades-long collaboration. But in any case, WHO needs a broader, more balanced donor base, where the financial burden is better shared by all countries.  Others must come forward. The world must not turn a blind eye to the suffering of those whose lives have been upended by conflict.

A time to reflect, but also to act

This Ramadan―as we fast, reflect and pray―let us remember the parents who go without food, not just during Ramadan, but every day, so their children can have what little food they can find.

As we gather with our loved ones for iftar, let us remember those who cannot―the 17,000 Palestinian children in Gaza who remain unaccompanied or separated from their parents and the many more who are displaced or bereaved across the region.

We cannot afford to forget the millions who are struggling to survive. We must stand with them, support them, and work together to provide a future where health is a right, not a privilege.

This Ramadan, more than ever, the spirit of community must prevail. In 2025, WHO requires over $856mn to respond to regional health emergencies. This funding will allow us to continue to deliver life-saving medical supplies, keep hospitals running and ensure that communities in crisis receive the healthcare they need.

Our success depends on your solidarity.