World Health Assembly 75: UK National Intervention on Ukraine
Ambassador Simon Manley, UK Permanent Representative to the UN and WTO, delivered the UK's national intervention on Ukraine at the 75th meeting of the World Health Assembly in Geneva.
On 24 February, 聽Member States met virtually to discuss a new instrument on pandemic preparedness and response. Stemming from a WHA decision entitled 鈥樆使谔逵齛pp World, Together鈥�, it was a day where we all recognised that we must work together to tackle health threats.
Yet that very day President Putin regime launched his illegal, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, causing horrific health impacts.
Since then, as others have said here, there have been over 250聽attacks on health care, thousands of civilian deaths and injuries, and huge disruption to Ukraine鈥檚 health services. 聽Countless聽hospitals lie in ruins.
皇冠体育app psychological toll on Ukraine鈥檚 people is unimaginable. Dr. Tedros spoke moving movingly on Sunday of his experience as a child of war. Russia鈥檚 aggression is turning millions of Ukrainian children into children of war.
As we look across the world, there are far too many conflicts and crises causing suffering. Each constitutes a tragedy. Each聽deserves our greatest attention.
Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine is having a global impact that is exacerbating all these crises.
People across the world are facing food, energy, and commodity price rises. Yet聽Russia sees this and continues its relentless assault, weaponizing the global food supply and harming the world鈥檚 most vulnerable, causing lasting damage to health.
I understand the concerns of Member States who fear the politicisation of the Assembly. But war is a health issue. Health for peace. Peace for Health. 皇冠体育app聽WHA must not be afraid to address health crises, including the causes and, in this case, the aggressor.
Let me urge Member States to support the draft resolution before us and stand up for the people of Ukraine, for their health,聽and for international law.
To those tempted to support Russia鈥檚 resolution, let me urge you to think again. Strip away the diplomatic language. See what is left. A call for the protection of civilians, while Russian forces are killing and maiming those same civilians as we sit here.
A vote for the Russian resolution is a vote to condone that suffering.
We urges our fellow Member States to stand up for Health and Peace. Peace for Health.