The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a $30.3 million flash appeal to support health systems in five conflict-hit Middle East countries, warning they are "under severe strain" after weeks of intensified violence. 

In a social media post on Friday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus named Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Jordan as needing urgent support. He noted that the appeal, covering March to August 2026, aims to sustain essential health services and trauma care, strengthen disease surveillance and early warning systems, and enhance mass casualty management, as well as national readiness for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear emergencies. 

According to WHO data as of March 31, ongoing hostilities in the region have displaced more than 4 million people, with over 3,300 killed and 30,000 injured.