UICC expresses deep concern over armed conflict in the Middle East and challenges faced by its members

UICC is deeply concerned about the ongoing armed conflict in the Middle East and the extreme challenges that cancer organisations in the region are facing in delivering essential services. The recent escalation has further strained health infrastructure, disrupted access to medicines, and hindered preventative care, endangering the lives of countless people including those already struggling with cancer.

UICC has consistently reported on how its members manage in situations of conflict and unrest, drawing from experiences of organisations in Lebanon, Sudan, Honduras, Yemen, Afghanistan or Ukraine. These reports highlight the resilience and dedication of cancer organisations operating under dire circumstances. Countries taking in refugees from conflict zones also face significant challenges in providing adequate healthcare services to displaced populations.

During the recent World Cancer Congress, delegates heard first-hand accounts about navigating cancer control during times of crisis, organised by the Turkish Association for Cancer Research and Control and chaired by Richard Sullivan of King's College London. There was also a session on “Gaza's cancer patients: navigating the dual struggle of illness and war”, chaired by Navid Madani, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the US, which organised the session, featuring UICC Past President HRH Dina Mired of Jordan as a keynote speaker.

In past statements, UICC has expressed its grave concern and dismay at the devastating impact of conflicts on health services and patients. Today, UICC reiterates its call for the protection of civilians and access to healthcare as fundamental conditions to alleviate human suffering and stands in solidarity with its members in the Middle East and other conflict areas who work tirelessly to support cancer patients in the most difficult circumstances.

"Cancer knows no borders, and it respects no conflicts. It is a disease that affects individuals regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, or political affiliation. It is in this shared experience of the human condition that we support calls to facilitate and provide humanitarian aid, medical support, and assistance to those in need.”
– Cary Adams, CEO of UICC

UICC remains committed to supporting its members in conflict-affected regions and calls on the international community to ensure that healthcare services, including cancer care, are accessible to all those in need.