Russian officials have submitted a proposal to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), along with a string of other international bodies, after the WHO's European branch passed a resolution condemning the Russian Federation for its attack on Ukraine. Lillian Posner examines the history of such withdrawals and the issue at stake as the WHO deliberates "firing" Russia, and Russia tries to beat it to the punch.
Also, ahead of next week's World Health Assembly, David P. Fidler explores the five most pressing questions as member states grapple with increasing apathy concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and climate change.
North Korea is in the midst of a COVID-19 crisis. This week, Think Global Health interviews Victor Cha, professor at Georgetown University and the Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), on what may have precipitated this outbreak and the government's decision to acknowledge it publicly, as well as the potential political implications of this latest COVID surge.
Two researchers from Italy write about the unprecedented numbers of people around the globe forced to leave their homes due to violence, war, and climate-induced crises, and the particular dangers displacement imposes on older people. Still keeping an eye on the refugee crisis, a Canadian physician writes about his recent stint as an emergency physician in Ukraine, where he treated refugees trekking toward the border of Poland.
As always, thank you for reading, and be well. —Thomas J. Bollyky and Mary Brophy Marcus, Editors
