Your Majesty Queen Rania, Mr Prime Minister of Canada,
The World Health Organization’s deep concern about large movements of refugees and migrants centres on their health needs and how to meet them.
In part, the health of refugees and migrants is shaped by health conditions, including the prevalence of infectious diseases, in their country of origin.
But they also face health risks created by stresses during their journey and initial arrival, including physical exhaustion, inadequate safe food and water, accidents, and crowded living conditions.
During 2015, more than 3,700 refugees and migrants seeking to reach Europe are known to have died or gone missing at sea. The despair continues, with already more than 3,000 lives lost this year.
This is a great human tragedy that calls for a humane response.
The WHO strategy for protecting the health of refugees and migrants is evidence-based, objective, principled, and guided by a respect for human dignity and human rights.
Solidarity and humanity are key underlying principles.
WHO takes the position that the recent large movements of refugees and migrants are not an isolated crisis, but an ongoing reality with medium- and longer-term implications for security, economies, and health.
We emphasize the right to health care, non-discriminatory screening programmes to pick up health problems early, and the provision of services that in no way compromises health care for the host population.
The responsibility to provide health care is complicated by the current pattern of population movement, which includes many elderly and disabled persons, as well as an increasing number of unaccompanied children.
Vulnerable populations also include women and girls, who may be exposed to abuse or sexual violence.
The challenges associated with the mass movement of populations are the result of many factors, including global inequalities, climate change, and conflicts.
Action that focuses solely on conditions in host countries will be less effective than integrated global, regional, and cross-border initiatives that aim to build robust response plans and resilient health systems.
The World Health Organization welcomes this High-level Summit and thanks world leaders for endorsing the New York Declaration for refugees and migrants. We commit to work with countries and partners to make sure that the good intentions of the Declaration are implemented as actions and do not become just another good intentions on paper.
I thank you.