On November 9-14, 2020, the resumed session of the 73^rd World Health Assembly (WHA) is taking place in Geneva using a virtual format. Delegations from 194 WHO Member States, represented mainly at the ministerial level, as well as from specialized agencies, programs and funds of the UN system and non-governmental organizations are taking part in the Assembly. Ukraine is represented at the event by the delegation led by M.Stepanov, Minister of Health.

Addressing the WHA’s participants, WHO Director-General T.Ghebreyesus has emphasized that the first-ever pandemic caused by a coronavirus had provoked not only significant human losses but also disruption of the global health system. At the same time, he has acknowledged that no one knows the long-term effects of this virus on the human body, or on the world in general. In this regard, the head of the Organization has proposed to rely on science, solutions and solidarity. T.Ghebreyesus has also stressed upon that along with the fight against pandemic WHO has been continuing to implement the ambitious Thirteen General Programme of Work to reach the “triple billion” targets: one billion more people to benefit from universal health coverage, one billion more people better protected from health emergencies, one billion more people enjoying better health and well-being.

In the statement of the Ukrainian delegation at the resumed session of the 73rd WHA the attention has been drawn, in particular, to the challenges our state faces due to the COVID-19 pandemic; tribute has been paid to all healthcare professionals involved in the daily fight against the disease. Full support for WHO's work to ensure the development of an appropriate vaccine and equitable access to it has been emphasized. In addition, attention has been drawn to the continuation of a fruitful practical interaction with the Organization, in particular, within the framework of the Biennial Collaborative Agreement for 2020-2021. The emphasis has been also placed on the efforts to provide healthcare for those affected by the Russian aggression, including 3 million citizens living in close proximity to the conflict area and more than 1.4 million internally displaced persons. Concern has been expressed over a severe toll the aggression of the Russian Federation is taking on the physical and psychological health of a large part of our state’s population, as well as over the inadequate access to healthcare services in the Ukrainian temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Reacting to Russia's deceptive narratives, Yurii Klymenko, the Permanent Representative of Ukraine in Geneva, has emphasized on the catastrophic epidemiological situation evolving in the Ukrainian temporarily occupied territories due to the high rate of spread of COVID-19. The Permanent Representative has highlighted the root cause of this situation related to the failure of the occupying state to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law to protect the lives and health of the population of the occupied territories. It has been also underlined that Russia deprives Ukrainian citizens illegally detained by it of proper medical assistance. Russia has been urged to provide full and unhindered access for the ICRC and other international humanitarian agencies to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to deliver emergency medical assistance to the local population.