MSF International President Dr Mohamed Javid Abdelmoneim Calls for Global Health Solidarity as Crises Deepen Across Gaza, Sudan and Beyond

By Sithembile Moyo

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) International President, Dr Mohamed Javid Abdelmoneim, addressed the media in South Africa this week, outlining the urgent global health and humanitarian challenges facing vulnerable communities and the critical role South Africa plays as the first African country to chair the G20.

Dr Abdelmoneim, a Sudanese-Iranian emergency medical doctor who joined MSF in 2009, is visiting South Africa shortly after his election as the organisation’s International President. The media briefing provided insight into his vision for MSF, the organisation’s evolving role within a shifting global humanitarian landscape, and the growing threats posed by donor withdrawals, conflict, and climate-driven health crises.

For the first time, South Africa holds the G20 presidency and has invited MSF to participate in the G20 Health Working Group. Dr Abdelmoneim described this as “a crucial platform to make key global health calls and respond to shared challenges.” However, he expressed disappointment that despite the urgency of global health needs, many G20 countries are instead “pushing to do less obligation, less coordination, and less support.”

He highlighted concerns about the watering down of the G20 health declaration, noting that critical components such as pandemic preparedness and the central coordinating role of the WHO had been weakened. “This moment demanded unity and global commitment to health for all,” he said. “Instead, powerful countries have undermined a previously bold declaration built around South Africa’s themes of equality, solidarity and sustainability.”

Dr Abdelmoneim warned that global funding cuts, shifting donor priorities, and a retreat from multilateralism are eroding decades of health gains. “These cuts translate into real consequences: shortages of essential medicines, delays in diagnosis and treatment, preventable deaths, and widening health inequities,” he said. Responses to HIV, TB and malaria diseases that have seen enormous progress over the years are now at risk. Rising transmission, drug resistance and weakened health systems could reverse hard-won improvements.

While MSF is not directly affected by recent donor reductions, he stressed that humanitarian actors cannot fill the growing gaps alone. “We urgently call for continued and sufficient funding for the global humanitarian sector,” he said. Dr Abdelmoneim added that the crisis is not limited to fragile or conflict-affected states. Even countries with functioning health systems suffer from chronic under-resourcing. Without increased financial support, gaps in essential services will deepen, leading to higher mortality and worsening ill-health. He called for immediate and sustained investment to protect existing health gains and prevent avoidable deaths.

Speaking on the situation in Gaza, Dr Abdelmoneim welcomed the fragile ceasefire often violated but warned it is nowhere near enough to end the extreme suffering of Palestinians. “With Gaza’s health infrastructure systematically destroyed, hospitals simply cannot treat patients with severe war-related injuries,” he said. He urged the rapid scaling up of medical evacuations and noted MSF’s hope that South Africa will open its hospitals to critically injured patients from Gaza. Dr Abdelmoneim also commended South Africa for taking a principled stance in filing the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. “South Africa’s case is a critical step toward accountability and justice not only for Gaza, but for all contexts where civilians are deliberately targeted.”

Turning to Sudan, Dr Abdelmoneim described the situation as catastrophic. MSF teams continue operating in Awila, where thousands of people are fleeing brutal violence. He recounted harrowing testimonies of ethnically targeted killings, torture, rape and summary executions. Recent MSF screenings revealed staggering malnutrition levels among newly arrived children 35% severely malnourished, 36% moderately malnourished, amounting to a 71% total malnutrition rate. Pregnant and breastfeeding women showed equally shocking figures, with a combined total malnutrition rate of 87%. “This level of starvation is alarming,” he said. “And as the conflict intensifies, humanitarian access is shrinking.” He urgently called on all parties to the conflict to respect humanitarian workers and allow safe access to civilians in need.

Dr Abdelmoneim concluded by emphasising that crises in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, and other regions are multiplying while the global health and humanitarian system is weakening. “In a time of growing need, we are witnessing less support, less coordination and less obligation from the world’s richest countries,” he said. “We need global solidarity more than ever because no single organisation can shoulder these burdens alone.”