Information and resources for Health Cluster partners
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Hello ,
It has been a defining period for the humanitarian system, with changes underway that will shape how we coordinate and deliver health responses in crises. As the landscape continues to evolve, we want to share a few important updates that directly impact our work.
The Humanitarian Reset is changing how coordination is structured and where it is focused. The number of operations with Humanitarian Coordinators is being reduced from 28 to 20. Eight operations are preparing for accelerated transition and deactivation, 3 of which are clusters —Cameroon, Colombia and Nigeria. These changes come in the context of tighter funding, a clearer focus on life-saving interventions, and an emphasis on more efficient, impact-oriented coordination.
At the same time, the simplification of the Cluster system from 15 to 8 clusters is underway. This is accompanied by a move toward area-based coordination, a more localized and multi-sectoral approach at subnational level. There is also a stronger push for national leadership and broader access to pooled funding.
The annual GHC Partners’ Meeting brought together partners to reflect on these changes, discuss the future of coordination, and review findings from the GHC External Evaluation. A summary and links to the session recordings are available here.
Finally, after years of dedicated service, Linda Doull has completed her tenure as GHC Coordinator. We thank her warmly for her leadership. Eba Pasha is serving as Officer-in-Charge during this transition. She can be contacted at pashae@who.int.
As always, we value your collaboration and encourage you to reach out to the GHC Secretariat with any updates, questions or ideas at healthcluster@who.int.
The Q2 2025 Country Health Cluster Dashboard highlights the scale of ongoing humanitarian health needs across 27 countries and 2 regions. As of June, Health Clusters are aiming to reach 81 million people with essential health services, backed by a funding request of US$ 3.2 billion. To date, only 14% of this appeal has been funded, reinforcing the urgent need for increased support.
Severe and sudden funding cuts in the first quarter of 2025 have forced the humanitarian community to reprioritize its response efforts. The hyper-prioritized Global Humanitarian Overview 2025, published in June, is available here
Photo: ©WHO
Attacks on healthcare have become alarmingly routine, with WHO documenting 2,450 assaults across 21 countries since early 2024, resulting in over 2,000 deaths and nearly 2,400 injuries to patients and health workers. The Global Health Cluster has issued a strong appeal: defend humanitarian principles, protect those delivering life-saving care, and commit to sustained funding for frontline responders.
Photo: ©WHO
In 2024, nearly 2,000 mobile clinics were used across Health Clusters to deliver humanitarian health services, but the type of care, staffing, and frequency of visits varied. To address this, the Global Health Cluster, WHO, and Save the Children are leading a process to define a minimum package of services for mobile clinics under the H3 framework, with over 60 experts contributing and finalization expected by December 2025.
Northwest Syria’s fragile health system is at risk of collapse after years of crisis. More than 172 health facilities, including hospitals and primary care centres, face funding shortfalls that threaten care for millions. The Health Cluster and its partners are working to hold the line, but urgent support is needed to keep services running.
In South Sudan’s Aweil region, a Health Cluster–supported CEmONC centre run by the International Rescue Committee carried out lifesaving surgery for a woman facing severe obstetric complications. The case highlights the importance of trained staff and coordinated support in sustaining critical maternal health services in humanitarian settings.
GHC implements its workplan through Task Teams. These are groups of partners who volunteer their time and expertise to take forward priority actions.
GHC's Quality Improvement Task Team, in collaboration with Save the Children and partners, is advancing efforts to improve the quality of care in mobile clinics. A new package of five interlinked tools has been developed to support decision-making, implementation, and monitoring, alongside an e-learning course on quality of care in humanitarian settings. The tools, guides, and training materials will be available later this year, with webinars planned to introduce them to partners.
The Information Management Task Team met in July to review achievements and challenges in a changing humanitarian landscape. With funding shortfalls reshaping coordination and priorities, members used a partner survey to identify which tools and approaches should be maintained, adapted, or retired, while also discussing leaner systems, local alignment, and upcoming reforms.
Photo: ©Health Cluster/Ethiopia
Ethiopia is facing overlapping crises that leave millions in need of urgent health assistance. With US$57.8 million required this quarter to sustain life-saving services, the country has also taken steps to define a national package of high-priority health services for humanitarian response. Developed through recent workshops, the H3 Package will help ensure essential care reaches people affected by conflict, displacement, and disease outbreaks.
Kyiv workshop builds capacity for crisis coordination
8-11 April | Kyiv
Photo: ©Health Cluster /Ukraine
In April, the Ukraine Health Cluster held a coordination workshop in Kyiv with officials from the Ministry of Health and local partners from conflict-affected oblasts. The training focused on leadership, localization, and area-based response, helping prepare Ukraine’s health system to meet urgent needs while laying the groundwork for recovery.
Mali Health Cluster retreat sets priorities for 2025 response and coordination
19-20 March | Bamako
An estimated 6.5 million people in Mali will need humanitarian aid in 2025, including 3.7 million requiring critical health services, as ongoing insecurity and displacement strain health infrastructure. A Health Cluster retreat in Bamako recently brought together over 40 partners to define the road map for health response, covering epidemic preparedness, coordination, and resource mobilization.
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