Event highlights
Earthquake emergency management: WHO interregional Ministerial Conference
Earthquakes strike without warning. In seconds they can change lives, communities and health systems. They test the strength of infrastructure, the readiness of services, the coordination of institutions and the resilience of communities.
Yet the impact of an earthquake is not determined by the hazard alone. It is shaped by how well countries prepare before disaster strikes.
At the first WHO interregional Ministerial Conference on advancing health security through earthquake emergency management, ministers, emergency responders, world-class experts and health partners called for a shared vision for strengthening health services before, during and after earthquakes.
The Istanbul Outcome Statement, an outcome from the conference, outlines practical actions to protect lives in future emergencies.
WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, speaking at the first WHO interregional Ministerial Conference on advancing health security through earthquake emergency management in Istanbul, Türkiye. Credit: WHO
Preparing for the next big one
More than 200 representatives, including ministerial representation from 11 states, came together from 30 countries to reflect on the hard lessons of past earthquakes, exchange practical experience and consider ways to strengthen health services before, during and after earthquakes.
Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, stated, “The urgency of why we are gathered here was brought into sharp focus by the tragic earthquakes that hit Venezuela. We are here because earthquakes are a real, present and shared danger. The lessons of recent earthquakes show why preparedness matters. It is a shared responsibility and a smart investment. We are here today because no country can prepare alone. Across all the regions represented here, countries face common challenges and benefit from shared solutions.”
Earthquakes remain one of the greatest threats to health security worldwide. Between 2000 and 2023, earthquakes accounted for more than half of all deaths caused by natural hazards.
A damaged hospital in the Turkish town of Antakya after it was hit by the 7.8 magnitude earthquakes that struck Türkiye and Syria. Credit: WHO / Catherine Smallwood
The lessons that shaped a global commitment
The discussions were grounded in the lessons of the 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, which demonstrated both the devastating consequences of large-scale earthquakes and the importance of resilient health systems supported by international solidarity.
According to Türkiye Health Minister, Professor Dr Kemal Memişoğlu, “Earthquakes are a shared concern for all humanity. The strongest response to this global threat is collective wisdom, scientific cooperation and international solidarity. Every disaster has also given us important lessons in building a stronger health system. We see preparedness not as a single action, but as a comprehensive approach: building strong health infrastructure, training qualified personnel, establishing effective coordination mechanisms and ensuring that health services continue under all conditions. Every experience we share can help save lives in the future.”
Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergencies Programme, noted, “WHO estimates that since 1998, earthquakes have caused more than 830 000 deaths globally and affected more than 175 million people. The health impact of an earthquake is not determined by magnitude alone. It is shaped by the demographic and health profile of the affected communities and by the safety and functionality of infrastructure, including health facilities, access to medicines, supplies and essential services.”
Reconstruction is underway at Miyako Bay in Japan, which was hit by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake in 2011. Credit: WHO / Yoshi Shimizu
Preparedness starts before the ground shakes
Participants agreed that preparedness is not a single emergency plan. It includes risk assessments, resilient hospitals, trained health workers, operational readiness, digital health systems, simulation exercises and coordination across sectors. These investments strengthen health systems before disasters occur.
Sean Casey, Programme Area Manager for Emergency Operations at the WHO Western Pacific Region, said, “This conference brings regions together for a reason. The Western Pacific, Europe and other regions face the same seismic risk and the same truth: countries lead the response, and they do best when government, communities and partners already work as one system. Countries like Indonesia and Japan show what deep preparedness looks like, and their experience travels. Strong national systems, tested before a crisis, save lives wherever earthquakes strike."
Dr Sandra Gallina, Director-General of the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission, delivers a keynote address at the WHO interregional Ministerial Conference on advancing health security through earthquake emergency management in Istanbul, Türkiye. Credit: WHO
Ensuring service delivery during and after crisis
Health services must be delivered when communities need them most. A recurring message throughout the conference was that resilient health services are central to earthquake response. From emergency medical teams and trauma care to safe hospitals and maintaining essential health services, countries highlighted the importance of ensuring care continues even under the most challenging circumstances.
Sandra Gallina, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission, noted, “When an earthquake strikes, the question is not only whether buildings withstand the shock, but whether health systems can continue to protect and care for people. Preparedness is not a one-time action. It is a system that must be built, maintained and strengthened long before a crisis arrives. The most resilient systems are those that protect the most vulnerable people before, during and after a crisis. Crises are becoming more frequent and more complex. The answer is not to wait until they arrive, but to invest in preparedness now.”
A member of the Turkish military supports a woman affected by the earthquake in 2023. Credit: WHO / Tunc Ozceber
Preparedness extends beyond governments
Participants emphasized meaningful community engagement, transparent risk communication, the protection of health workers and support for populations facing heightened risk. They noted that effective earthquake preparedness depends on trust, inclusion and local leadership.
Gail Carson, Director of Network Development, International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC), University of Oxford, and Chair, Technical Advisory Group on RCCE-IM [Risk communications, community engagement and infodemic management], said, “People remember for a long time if they feel they are not being helped or supported. People ask, ‘Where are you the rest of the time?’ You see the need for engagement before the shock hits because those shocks don’t necessarily create the resilience; they reveal if resilience already exists. So, if the governments and leading institutions during crises want to make sure that their rapid decision-making is actually impactful, then they need to engage with their communities by listening to them, getting them at the table in those early stages of planning, and see them as equals, treat them as equals, and get them involved from the beginning.”
By addressing routine health needs well before a crisis, we can lay the foundation of community trust essential for effective emergency response.
Dr Verda Tunaligil from the Turkish Ministry of Health, Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate, speaks to delegates attending the WHO interregional Ministerial Conference on advancing health security through earthquake emergency management. Credit: WHO
Stronger together
Earthquakes cross borders, and so must cooperation. Delegates reaffirmed the importance of regional collaboration, trust, interoperable emergency medical teams (EMTs), information sharing and mutual assistance to strengthen global health security.
Dr Verda Tunaligil from the Turkish Ministry of Health, Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate, stated, “I am a medical doctor, and I specialize in public health. The more prepared countries are, and the more they collaborate over these issues, the more lives that are saved, and the more quality of life increases.”
Yoshiki Toyokuni, Disaster and Health Security Specialist, Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) Secretariat, Japan Institute for Health Security, noted, “When the next major earthquake occurs, EMTs will not arrive as external responders but as trusted partners within the national response. Trust is built before deployment.”
WHO/Europe, in collaboration with the Government of Türkiye, hosted the WHO Ministerial Conference on advancing health security through earthquake emergency management on 1–2 July 2026 in Istanbul. Credit: WHO
Looking ahead
The Istanbul Outcome Statement is more than the conclusion of a conference. It is a shared commitment to strengthen preparedness, invest in resilient health systems and work across borders, so that when the next earthquake comes, countries are better prepared to protect lives.
The conference concluded with a call for continued action by Member States, WHO and partners to strengthen preparedness, response and recovery through sustained investment in resilient, people-centred health systems. Participants recognized that preparedness is a long-term investment in health security and community resilience.
Dr Beenish Altaf, Senior Scientific Officer and Assistant Professor, National Institute of Health, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Pakistan, said, “We stand ready to work with WHO and partners, to be prepared before the earth moves, not after.”
Dr Aziz Alper Biten, Director General for European Union and Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Türkiye, added, “Earthquakes may be inevitable, but the scale of their impact is not. It is shaped by the decisions we make, the partnerships we build and the preparedness we invest in today. Do every job as if lives depend on it – because in disasters, they often do. The quality of what we build today becomes the resilience of our communities tomorrow.”
In conclusion, Dr Kluge stated, “Earthquakes remind us how quickly lives can change. But they also remind us of something equally important – preparedness does save lives and solidarity makes us stronger. Today’s Outcome Statement gives us a common direction. Our responsibility now is to turn these commitments into action. WHO/Europe stands ready to work with Member States and partners to strengthen preparedness, support resilient health systems and deepen cooperation, also interregionally. No country can eliminate earthquake risk, but every country can reduce vulnerability. Every country can strengthen resilience and together we can build better lives, livelihoods and hope.”
Event notice
WHO/Europe, in collaboration with the Government of Türkiye, is hosting the WHO Ministerial Conference on advancing health security through earthquake emergency management on 1–2 July 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye.
Health emergencies caused by natural hazards, particularly earthquakes, pose significant risks to population health, health systems and communities. The devastating earthquakes that struck southern Türkiye and northern Syria in February 2023 highlighted the scale of these impacts and the importance of strong preparedness, coordinated response and international collaboration.
This conference will bring together ministers of health, senior officials, technical experts and partners from across multiple WHO regions to strengthen collaboration and share experiences in earthquake emergency management. Participants will exchange lessons learned, explore WHO tools and guidance and identify priorities to better protect health before, during and after earthquakes.
The event aims to enhance awareness of earthquake-related health risks, strengthen national and international capacities and build commitment to improving preparedness, response, resilience and recovery.
The conference will be held over 2 days: a technical session on 1 July and a ministerial session on 2 July, where ministers of health will reaffirm their commitment to advancing earthquake health emergency management.
Approximately 250 participants are expected to attend, including representatives from WHO, governments, emergency response agencies and partner organizations. Participation is by invitation only. The working language will be English with simultaneous interpretation available in Turkish, Russian, Arabic and French.