World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that more than 1,300 people have lost their lives since June 21 due to the heat wave affecting Europe.
The WHO Director-General issued a statement on his social media account regarding the heat wave affecting Europe. Noting that Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, heating up at twice the global average rate, Ghebreyesus said, “Right now, 150 million people are exposed to extreme heat; hundreds have lost their lives; schools have been closed; and power grids have begun to fail. Due to the climate crisis and the effects of global warming, heat waves that were once considered ‘once-in-a-generation’ events are now occurring almost every year. We have issued warnings about this before.”
Ghebreyesus stated that the WHO is working with member states and partners to address the health threats posed by extreme heat by focusing on preparedness, prevention, and stronger health system responses. Emphasizing that they are encouraging European countries to implement heat-related health action plans, Ghebreyesus remarked, “In Europe, more than 1,300 deaths linked to high temperatures have been recorded since June 21. Heat stress is often referred to as the ‘silent killer,’ and homes, workplaces, and schools in Europe were not built to withstand these temperatures.”
