disaster
World: WHO supports countries to strengthen emergency medical teams amid rising health emergencies across the Eastern Mediterranean Region
By World Health Organization at ReliefWeb
· June 17, 2026
· 3 min read
. EMTs are groups of health professionals, including doctors, nurses and paramedics, deployed to provide immediate medical care in emergencies. The workshop focused on enhancing the integration of EMTs within national health care and preparedness systems, bringing together 30 participants from the h
Key takeaway The Eastern Mediterranean Region continues to face some of the world's most complex emergencies, including conflicts, disease outbreaks, natural disasters, climate-related events and population displacement.
Why this matters
The World Health Organization's efforts to strengthen emergency medical teams in the Eastern Mediterranean Region are critical given the rising health emergencies in the area. With 117 million people requiring humanitarian aid and urgent health assistance in 2026, the need for rapid and high-quality emergency response is paramount. The region's complex emergencies, including conflicts and natural disasters, necessitate a robust and coordinated response. The establishment of EMTs within national health care systems, as seen in countries like Oman, Yemen, and Egypt, is a step towards achieving this goal. The WHO's support in enhancing EMT capacity and implementing the Emergency Medical Team 2030 Strategy will be crucial in addressing the region's health challenges. As the region continues to face numerous emergencies, the success of these efforts will be closely watched, particularly in countries like Lebanon, where establishing a fully operational national EMT is a key priority.
About this story
Original reporting by ReliefWeb . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit ReliefWeb . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: disaster ·
Published: June 17, 2026 ·
Source: ReliefWeb ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? . EMTs are groups of health professionals, including doctors, nurses and paramedics, deployed to provide immediate medical care in emergencies. The workshop focused on enhancing the integration of EMTs within national health care and preparedness systems, bringing together 30 participants from the h
When was this published? This article was first published on June 17, 2026 by ReliefWeb and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by World Health Organization at ReliefWeb. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more disaster coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .