President Higgins had a discussion by phone with Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the World Health Organisation’s Health Emergencies Programme.
Their discussion followed from a recent meeting which President Higgins held with Dr Ryan and the Director General of the WHO, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, at Áras an Uachtaráin on 18 December 2023, at which they undertook to stay in touch on health and food issues and, in particular, to continue their engagement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
In what was a comprehensive call, Dr Ryan updated the President on the figures for the number of deaths that have taken place in Gaza, which have now passed 27,000. He informed the President that the current figure for UNRWA staff deaths in Gaza is 152.
Following their call, President Higgins said that he wishes to share the sense of urgency conveyed to him as media reports emerged that an attack on an ever-more densely packed Rafah is being reported and ceasefire talks are at a crucial stage
