GENEVA

Operations at the World Health Organization (WHO) logistics hub for global health emergencies in Dubai are resuming on Friday after being on hold due to "insecurity," the agency said.

WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Hanan Balkhy told reporters in Geneva, speaking from Cairo: "After a temporary pause, WHO’s Hub for Global Health Emergencies Logistics is today resuming operations."

She said the government of the United Arab Emirates, in coordination with the World Food Program and Dubai Humanitarian, confirmed that it stands ready to facilitate urgent humanitarian shipments.

More than 50 emergency supply requests across 25 countries are currently affected, she explained, and added: "These pending requests – which will benefit more than 1.5 million people – include WHO supplies for Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen, and Somalia, as well as polio laboratory supplies for global detection and eradication activities across a number of countries."

WHO will work in the coming days to process "urgent new shipments and clear priority backlogs," she noted.

"We hope that the pause in the use of the airspace for the Dubai and the humanitarian hub does not get jeopardized again with the current situation," she concluded.

Israel and the US have continued a large-scale offensive on Iran since Saturday, reportedly killing more than 1,000 people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top military officials.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Gulf countries that are home to US military assets.