Dear Regional Director,

Excellencies,

Distinguished colleagues,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

1. We are meeting today for an urgent, deeply concerning and heart-breaking reason: the health consequences of the unprovoked and unjustified Russian military aggression against Ukraine.

We thank you Regional Director for convening this special session, which all 27 EU member states have asked for, alongside Ukraine and 15 other countries from the EURO Region. The EU and its 27 Member States strongly condemn that a country of the EURO Region, permanent member of the Security Council and member of the Executive Board of the WHO, violates in such a blatant way the core principles of the UN Charter and the WHO Constitution.

Let me begin by:

• First, expressing our full solidarity with Ukraine and the people of Ukraine;
• Secondly, condemning in the strongest possible terms Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine. An aggression that grossly violates international law including international humanitarian and human rights law, the UN Charter and the Constitution of WHO, and undermines global health, as well as international peace, security and stability. An aggression that has caused thousands of deaths and led to a dramatic deterioration of the physical and mental health of the population of Ukraine.

2. The aggression has already had a devastating impact on the Ukrainian health system, leading to restricted or impossible access to health services for millions of people.

Ukraine’s health system is facing multiple challenges such as the impact on maternal and newborn health, on people living with HIV/AIDS, on prevention and treatment of NCDs, in particular for the elderly, as well as on mental health. We must preserve the fundamental right to health of the people of Ukraine, especially the most vulnerable groups. The aggression also heightens the risk of the emergence and spread of infectious diseases given its impact on vaccination rates and on the water, sanitation and hygiene conditions. It also raises the risks of human trafficking and gender-based violence, food insecurity and potential nuclear and chemical hazards.

Deliberate attacks on health care continue. We call on Russia to stop attacks on healthcare facilities immediately and to allow the safe evacuation of civilians who wish to leave to a destination of their choice. Free and safe access for those delivering medical and humanitarian assistance must also be ensured. On behalf of the EUMS I convey our solidarity with, and deep respect for, all health workers that are working tirelessly to uphold the health of people in Ukraine.

3. The EU and its  Member States stand with Ukraine and will do their best to mitigate the negative impact of the war on the people of Ukraine.

Over 25 thousand tonnes of humanitarian assistance have been channelled to Ukraine via the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU is also providing medical evacuation to the patients in need to get treatment outside Ukraine, including mainly - but not exclusively - wounded, burn and cancer patients. Access to medical care is also provided for the refugees fleeing Ukraine and arriving to the EU. Mental health services to support the needs of refugees are also being established, mainly in the neighbouring countries with hotlines for psychological support.

The high-Level International Donors Conference for Ukraine, co-hosted by Sweden and Poland, and in partnership with the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, showed proof of how much can be done when the international community comes together to respond to the rapidly increasing humanitarian needs.

4. We express our full gratitude and support to WHO for its work on the ground.

WHO has reached over 7 million people in the last two months with life-saving supplies, equipment and medicines. The work done by WHO – delivering specialized medical supplies, coordinating the deployment of medical teams, and​ working with health authorities to minimize disruptions to the delivery of critical healthcare services – is crucial.

We would be interested to hear from the Regional Director if the updated emergency flash appeal and humanitarian refugee response plan launched on 25 April includes the needs for WHO for the coming months.

5. The alarming consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine do not stop at the Ukrainian or the neighboring countries’ boarders.

We are all witnessing its global implications beyond the EURO-region, which should be brought to the attention of the broader WHO-membership during the WHA.   

The EU and its 27 Member States stand with the Ukraine to fully support the draft resolution for the Regional Committee “Health emergency in Ukraine and neighboring countries, stemming from the Russian Federation’s aggression” and we call on all others to join us. The dramatic consequences of this war and its local, regional and transregional health impacts need to be addressed by the upcoming World Health Assembly. For the sake of safeguarding health and peace in the region and globally, the EU calls on Russia to immediately cease its military actions in Ukraine and respect its responsibilities under the international law.

Thank you.