World Health Organization and Regional Ministers Convene in Istanbul to Address Seismic Risks to Health Infrastructure
The Government of Türkiye and the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe hosted a high-level conference in Istanbul bringing together approximately 200 participants, including eight regional health ministers. The summit focused on developing international frameworks to protect public health systems and ensure medical infrastructure remains operational prior to future major natural disasters.
The meeting took place in one of the world's most active seismic zones, situated near the North Anatolian Fault. Peer-reviewed estimates indicate a 40% to 60% probability of a magnitude 7.0 or greater earthquake affecting the Marmara region in the coming decades. Delegates emphasized the urgent necessity of retrofitting vulnerable hospitals and standardizing cross-border rapid-response plans, noting that European seismic risk remains heavily concentrated across Greece, Italy, Romania, and Türkiye.
Link: Source: World Health Organization
