Lyon, France – The UAE has issued a clear warning about the far-reaching repercussions of ongoing illegal, unjustified and provocative regional attacks on global health, the environment and food systems.
This came during her address to international leaders at the One World Health Summit held in the French city of Lyon.
The summit was held at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, with the participation of heads of state and more than 30 ministers.
On behalf of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, His Excellency Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of Health and Community Protection, participated in the One Health World Summit.
Losses of life and livelihoods
The summit brought together the Quadripartite Partnership – the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. In addition to governments from more than 20 countries at the ministerial level, hundreds of international organizations, as well as representatives from the scientific community, the private sector, and civil society.
During his speech, His Excellency Al Sayegh condemned in the strongest terms the attacks that targeted the UAE, the Gulf states and the region. Pointing out that “Iran’s illegal, unjustified, and provocative attacks, which have included more than 2,700 drones and missiles, continue to cause losses to lives, livelihoods, vital civilian infrastructure, and the environment simultaneously.”
His Excellency stressed that human, animal and environmental health are inseparably interconnected, and that these risks are overlapping in nature. Pressures on one of these systems directly and quickly affect other systems.
One Health
These developments underscore the close interconnectedness between human health, critical infrastructure, the environment and global supply chains, and the need to adopt a more integrated, prevention-based approach to enhance health security.
His Excellency pointed out the importance of expanding the scope of the «One Health» approach to include environmental risks, such as air pollution, as they are among the most prominent factors causing chronic diseases and long-term health burdens worldwide. He reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to promoting an integrated, prevention-based approach to health security, based on science, effective governance, and close international cooperation.
The UAE called on partners and participants to unite around the “One Health” approach to protect human, animal and environmental health. Despite the current regional security situation, and at a time when cooperation between countries is witnessing increasing challenges.
His Excellency Al Sayegh also announced the UAE’s support for the “One Health and Beyond” declaration, and its cooperation with the global network of centers of excellence in this field. Reiterating the state’s commitment to developing practical, implementation-based solutions that integrate health, environment, and climate priorities.
