WHO explores sukuk instruments for emergency response

The World Health Organization (WHO) is working to explore special sukuk instruments aimed at addressing emergency response issues.

Report informs that Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director of the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, said this during a panel discussion held as part of the 51st Annual Meetings of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group in Baku.

She noted that emergency response is one of the areas that most needs diversified support and sources of financing.

"As a rule, WHO receives around 20% of its budget through assessed contributions, while the remaining 80% comes from voluntary contributions. For this reason, most voluntary contributions are either thematic or allocated to specific areas, which seriously limits our ability to cooperate with member states," Balkhy said.

According to her, the region she represents is the area with the highest number of armed conflicts and the largest-scale forced displacement.

"As a result, an even heavier burden falls on health ministries. They have no room to think or hold discussions. They have urgent needs. They provide healthcare services not only domestically, but also to forcibly displaced people arriving from countries such as Sudan and Syria. As a result, countries with already weakened health systems face an additional migration burden," she said.

Balkhy added that, in this regard, broader discussions on the ground and clearer directions for progress are of great importance.

"I hope we will see the health sector move toward the growth direction that has been claimed and widely discussed," she said.