WHO's role in health emergencies

WHO / Farah Ramadan
WHO Regional Director for Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Hanan Balkhy visit to the Syrian Arab Republic.

WHO's strength lies in its triple mandate to advance global health. We provide trusted global leadership, mobilize expertise at scale to reach people others cannot, and work hand‑in‑hand with national authorities and frontline providers to enable a country‑led, collaborative response during and beyond the crisis.

Health leadership and coordination

People gather around a table in a clinic, reviewing documents together.

WHO brings unmatched scientific authority, technical expertise and global health diplomacy to the humanitarian response. As the only organization that sets global standards for emergency health care, WHO ensures all interventions are safe, effective and evidence based. WHO’s Global Health Intelligence systems monitors risks in real-time and translates findings into coordinated action. WHO also advocates globally to protect health workers and ensure safe humanitarian access, as well as contributing to improving the prospects of peace.

Humanitarian response

A woman holds a toddler in a waiting area, looking toward the camera.

As lead of the Health Cluster, WHO coordinates over 1500 partners – two thirds of them national or local actors – while its permanent presence in 150+ countries positions WHO to negotiate access to reach people others simply cannot. WHO mobilizes supplies and expertise at scale and delivers where it is hardest to operate. WHO also deploys specialized medical equipment within hours and coordinates emergency medical teams and trained health professionals to areas of greatest need.

Sustaining health systems

Emergency medical responders in red uniforms and green helmets perform a resuscitation drill on a training mannequin.

WHO works hand-in-hand with national authorities and frontline providers to enable a country-led, collaborative response that endures beyond the crisis. Embedded in national health systems, WHO partners with ministries of health to strengthen preparedness and mobilize resources. At the same time, WHO advances localization by moving financing and decision-making closer to delivery and integrating surge support into national systems. After a crisis, WHO supports health system recovery, strengthens capacity and builds lasting resilience through workforce training and leadership development.

Top contributors to WHO’s Health Emergency Appeal 2025

(Listed in order of magnitude)

European Commission

United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Germany

Japan

Italy

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

European Investment Bank

Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF)

Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI)