The World Health Organization (WHO) has mobilized seven missions to northern Gaza over the past three weeks, providing medical supplies and essentials to local hospitals despite frequent challenges to its humanitarian efforts, according to Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO Representative in the West Bank and Gaza.
"In October, many WHO humanitarian missions to the north were canceled or impeded. But over the last three weeks, WHO managed seven missions to the north, five missions to specifically - and you saw it a lot in the news - Kamal Adwan, and yesterday, also in Al-Awda hospital," said Peeperkorn.
Peeperkorn stated that the situation in northern Gaza remains dire, with many local hospitals either closed or barely operational. He also noted that medical facilities, including WHO's own fleets, have been consistently targeted, further impeding the ongoing polio vaccination campaign run jointly by WHO and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).
The third phase of the vaccination campaign, which had been postponed since Oct. 23 due to the escalating conflict, resumed from Saturday to Monday during agreed-upon humanitarian pauses.
Early Saturday morning, 216 medical teams, supported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, UNRWA, and other partners, were deployed across 106 fixed sites in the north.
In addition, more than 200 social mobilizers engaged with communities and raised awareness about vaccination efforts, according to UN agencies.
WHO delivers aid to northern Gaza amid ongoing challenges: WHO Officer
Many international business leaders participating in the 7th China International Import Expo (CIIE) have expressed confidence in the Chinese market, stating their eagerness to seize opportunities presented by China's opening-up.
Platforms like the CIIE are important for international companies to build connections and promote their products in the rapidly evolving Chinese market, they said.
Running from November 5 to 10 under the theme of "New Era, Shared Future," the 7th CIIE has attracted participants from 152 countries, regions, and international organizations to participate in its country exhibition and business exhibition.
Among them, nearly 3,500 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions are taking part in the business exhibition, while a record number of 297 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders are attending the event.
"So, we've been to CIIE many times over the years. This is obviously the seventh meeting. We are very positive on the Chinese economy and outlook, especially for health care, and what we've seen with the policies from the government, we believe now is the time to invest," said Chris Toth, executive vice president and group president of Kidney Care.
Anu Rathninde, president of Johnson Controls for the Asia Pacific region, emphasized the unique value of the expo as a platform for global businesses to access the Chinese market and showcase their products.
"I think our commitment to China remains unchanged. I think there isn't something like CIIE in the world, in my experience, that really creates an opportunity for full international companies to come in - those who are not even operating in China - to come in and promote their products to sell in China; not just buy from China, but to sell in China as well. So, I think that's what (makes) this platform very unique," said Rathninde.
"I think it's just growing, becoming bigger and bigger every time that we have been here, and I really look forward to showcase our latest technology that we've developed both in China, but also in other places of the world, for the Chinese market. So really looking forward to it," said Gustaf Salford, president and CEO of Elekta AB.
A total of 77 countries and international organizations are participating in the country exhibition, which serves as an important platform for showcasing the diverse images of various countries and opportunities in trade and investment.
More than 400 new products, technologies, and services are set to be unveiled during the six-day expo, which experts say indicates foreign companies' confidence in the Chinese market amid a sluggish global economic recovery.
Int'l business leaders highlight confidence in Chinese market at CIIE
