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STORY: WHO / TEDROS PRESSER
TRT: 05:55
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT WHO ON SCREEN
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 02 OCTOBER 2025, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, press room
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“It’s now been one month since the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease near the town of Bulape, in the centre of the country.”
3. Wide shot, press room
SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“So far, 64 confirmed and probable cases, including 42 deaths, have been reported. Nine people have recovered and been discharged, and 13 others are currently being treated.”
4. Wide shot, press room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“We have now had five days without any new reported cases, which is good news, but more than 1,800 contacts are still being monitored.”
6. Wide shot, press room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“The area in which the outbreak is occurring is very remote, which is helping to contain it, but also makes the response very difficult logistically. For example, WHO has had to build 2.5 kilometres of pipes in order to supply the area with water.”
8. Wide shot, press room
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“As you know, next Tuesday the 7th of October marks two years since the horrific attacks on Israel by Hamas and other armed groups, in which 1200 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage into Gaza. Those attacks led to two years of conflict in Gaza, in which more than 66,000 people have been killed, 70 percent of them women and children. Thousands more are missing, presumed dead.”
10. Wide shot, press room
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“WHO welcomes the peace plan for Gaza proposed by President Trump and supported by other countries in the region and beyond. We welcome the proposal for an immediate end to the conflict; For the release of all hostages; For the resumption of humanitarian aid; For the reconstruction of Gaza, including its hospitals; And for peaceful and prosperous coexistence for Palestinians and Israelis.”
12. Wide shot, press room
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“Two years of conflict have devastated the health system and inflicted relentless suffering on Palestinians. Currently, only 14 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are functioning even partially.”
14. Wide shot, press room
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“Health and humanitarian workers, including WHO staff, have been on the ground throughout the conflict under extreme and unsafe conditions, with minimal supplies, food, transport, and fuel. Some have paid the ultimate price. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, almost 1800 health workers have been killed, and at least 543 aid workers.”
16. Wide shot, press room
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“New data from WHO illustrate the extent of the harm that has been done to the people of Gaza and their health system. In addition to the 66,000 people killed, almost 170,000 people have been injured in Gaza.”
18. Wide shot, press room
19. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“WHO estimates that at least one quarter of those have potentially life-changing injuries that require immediate and ongoing rehabilitation. The most common injuries requiring rehabilitation are blast injuries to legs and arms.”
20. Wide shot, press room
21. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“Other major injuries include amputations, burns, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Severe facial and eye injuries are also common, resulting in significant impairment and disfigurement. Of course, rehabilitation services are also essential for people with noncommunicable diseases and disability.”
22. Wide shot, press room
23. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“Over the past two years, WHO has verified 1719 attacks on health in Gaza and the West Bank, resulting in more than 1000 deaths and 1800 injuries. Add to that famine in some parts of Gaza, unsanitary living conditions, disease outbreaks and severe ongoing stress.”
24. Wide shot, press room
25. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“Since the conflict began almost two years ago, WHO has supported the evacuation of 7,841 patients for medical treatment outside Gaza.”
26. Wide shot, press room
27. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan and EU countries have been the largest recipients of medical evacuees, and I thank all those countries for opening their arms to these patients. However, about 15,600 patients are still awaiting medical evacuation, including 3,800 children.”
28. Wide shot, press room
29. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO):
“WHO was in Gaza before this conflict began, we have been there throughout, we will continue to be there as long as this conflict lasts, and when it ends – as all conflicts do – we will be there to help rebuild Gaza’s health system and its people. But as I always say, the best medicine is peace.”
30. Wide shot, press room
31. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative, occupied Palestinian territory, World Health Organization (WHO):
“We've seen multiple malnutrition related deaths at 400 validated and 101 of these are children, of which 80 are below the five years old. The malnutrition centres which are currently functioning are only actually four.”
32. Wide shot, press room
33. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Teresa Zakaria, Unit Head, Humanitarian and Disaster Action, Health Emergencies Interventions, World Health Organization (WHO):
“We're only seeing the tip of the iceberg when a child actually requires treatment because of complications due to severe acute malnutrition. There are thousands of others who are on their way into that same condition.”
34. Wide shot, press room
35. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Teresa Zakaria, Unit Head, Humanitarian and Disaster Action, Health Emergencies Interventions, World Health Organization (WHO):
“It's also the risk of all of the other children, pregnant, lactating women and the general population of Gaza who continue to suffer from the deficiency, food deficiency, from insufficient access to health care and other very, very basic necessities in order to survive.”
36. Wide shot, press room
World Health Organization (WHO) chief said, “The best medicine is peace.”
Addressing the press today (02 Oct), WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “It’s now been one month since the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease near the town of Bulape, in the centre of the country.”
He continued, “So far, 64 confirmed and probable cases, including 42 deaths, have been reported. Nine people have recovered and been discharged, and 13 others are currently being treated.”
He added, “We have now had five days without any new reported cases, which is good news, but more than 1,800 contacts are still being monitored.”
He also said, “The area in which the outbreak is occurring is very remote, which is helping to contain it, but also makes the response very difficult logistically. For example, WHO has had to build 2.5 kilometres of pipes in order to supply the area with water.”
On Gaza, he said, “As you know, next Tuesday the 7th of October marks two years since the horrific attacks on Israel by Hamas and other armed groups, in which 1200 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage into Gaza. Those attacks led to two years of conflict in Gaza, in which more than 66,000 people have been killed, 70 percent of them women and children. Thousands more are missing, presumed dead.”
He continued, “WHO welcomes the peace plan for Gaza proposed by President Trump and supported by other countries in the region and beyond. We welcome the proposal for an immediate end to the conflict; For the release of all hostages; For the resumption of humanitarian aid; For the reconstruction of Gaza, including its hospitals; And for peaceful and prosperous coexistence for Palestinians and Israelis.”
He added, “Two years of conflict have devastated the health system and inflicted relentless suffering on Palestinians. Currently, only 14 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are functioning even partially.”
He also said, “Health and humanitarian workers, including WHO staff, have been on the ground throughout the conflict under extreme and unsafe conditions, with minimal supplies, food, transport, and fuel. Some have paid the ultimate price. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, almost 1800 health workers have been killed, and at least 543 aid workers.”
He reported, “New data from WHO illustrate the extent of the harm that has been done to the people of Gaza and their health system. In addition to the 66,000 people killed, almost 170,000 people have been injured in Gaza.”
He said, “WHO estimates that at least one quarter of those have potentially life-changing injuries that require immediate and ongoing rehabilitation. The most common injuries requiring rehabilitation are blast injuries to legs and arms.”
He continued, “Other major injuries include amputations, burns, spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries. Severe facial and eye injuries are also common, resulting in significant impairment and disfigurement. Of course, rehabilitation services are also essential for people with noncommunicable diseases and disability.”
He said, “Over the past two years, WHO has verified 1719 attacks on health in Gaza and the West Bank, resulting in more than 1000 deaths and 1800 injuries. Add to that famine in some parts of Gaza, unsanitary living conditions, disease outbreaks and severe ongoing stress.”
He also said, “Since the conflict began almost two years ago, WHO has supported the evacuation of 7,841 patients for medical treatment outside Gaza.”
He noted, “Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan and EU countries have been the largest recipients of medical evacuees, and I thank all those countries for opening their arms to these patients. However, about 15,600 patients are still awaiting medical evacuation, including 3,800 children.”
He stressed, “WHO was in Gaza before this conflict began, we have been there throughout, we will continue to be there as long as this conflict lasts, and when it ends – as all conflicts do – we will be there to help rebuild Gaza’s health system and its people. But as I always say, the best medicine is peace.”
Dr Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, said, “We've seen multiple malnutrition related deaths at 400 validated and 101 of these are children, of which 80 are below the five years old. The malnutrition centres which are currently functioning are only actually four.”
Dr Teresa Zakaria, Unit Head, of WHO Humanitarian and Disaster Action, Health Emergencies Interventions, said, “We're only seeing the tip of the iceberg when a child actually requires treatment because of complications due to severe acute malnutrition. There are thousands of others who are on their way into that same condition.”
She also said, “It's also the risk of all of the other children, pregnant, lactating women and the general population of Gaza who continue to suffer from the deficiency, food deficiency, from insufficient access to health care and other very, very basic necessities in order to survive.”
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