WHO

154^th Session of the Executive Board

Item 15 - Implementation of resolution WHA75.11 (2022)

EU Statement

Chair,

Director-General,

Excellencies,

Colleagues,

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

The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova[1] and Georgia align themselves with this statement.

We thank the Director-General for the report on the “Implementation of resolution WHA75.11 (2022)”. Almost two years have passed since the start of Russia's unprovoked, unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, which grossly violates international law and undermines international security and stability. The EU reiterates its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter. We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and its inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression.

The health and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine resulting from the Russian aggression is significant and unwarranted. Over the past weeks, Russia has intensified its attacks, exacerbating the suffering of the Ukrainian people, resulting in civilian casualties, injuries, and profound mental health traumas. To date more than 1300 attacks on health care have been confirmed. As a consequence, Ukraine’s health system and access to critical health care services, medicines and treatment are severely compromised, to the profound detriment of those most in need, particularly persons in vulnerable situations such as older persons, pregnant women and new-born children, persons with pre-existing conditions and disability, as well as to the victims of violence and conflict.

The deliberate destruction of the dam at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, which is a direct consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, further exacerbated health care challenges in the region.

The DG-report further concludes that the consequences of the war in Ukraine are far-reaching and go beyond Ukraine and refugee-receiving countries. The exacerbation of an already significant global food security crisis, as well as the risks of radiological, biological, and chemical events and hazards are some of the wider than regional health and humanitarian impacts resulting from the Russian Federation´s aggression against Ukraine. Our collective efforts moving forward must therefore reflect the magnitude and global scale of this crisis.

We recognise the Director General’s efforts to report on key issues outlined in the resolution. We encourage the WHO to take further action to mitigate the negative health and humanitarian impacts of this war in Ukraine and beyond. It includes continued efforts to ensure access to basic health and care services, mental health and psychosocial support services, sexual and reproductive health-care services, routine vaccination and treatments, as well as access to services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. Efforts to address prevention and response to sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment must be strengthened, including community outreach.

Securing financial resources is key. To date, the EU, together with its MS, have dedicated over EUR 2.9 billion to humanitarian assistance in Ukraine. In the face of continued Russian attacks against Ukraine’s civil and critical infrastructure, the EU and its Member States will intensify the provision of further humanitarian and civil protection assistance to Ukraine. Moreover, we remain committed to supporting Ukraine’s repair, recovery and reconstruction, in coordination with international partners. We will continue our intensive global outreach efforts to ensure the widest possible international support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace and the key principles and objectives of Ukraine’s Peace Formula, with a view to a future Global Peace Summit.

Finally, we look forward to an updated implementation report of resolution WHA75.11, to be presented before WHA77.

I thank you.

[1] North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.