WHO forgot to speak?

During one of the WHO committee sessions, it was clear many delegates weren’t fully engaged. While the Chair tried to start a moderated caucus, most people seemed more interested in quiet side conversations or scrolling on their phones than the discussion. When it came time to raise placards to speak, barely anyone did — it was like a game of “who’s going to volunteer first,” but without much enthusiasm. Eventually, the Chair had to warn that if no one stepped up, names would be added to the speakers’ list anyway. It felt like many delegates were just going through the motions rather than genuinely participating.

When the discussion finally started picking up, it quickly became clear things weren’t running as smoothly as hoped. The delegate from China got a bit rattled when asked about their country’s efforts to help Sudan rebuild its healthcare system. They couldn’t back up their points with solid facts or examples, which made a few people in the room raise their eyebrows.

Brazil also had a rough patch. The delegate made a statement with confidence, but it turned out to be completely off. Before long, the USA jumped in to correct the mistake, putting Brazil on the spot. The correction was quick and direct, and you could see Brazil’s red face as they scrambled for a response. It wasn’t just a slip-up — it raised some serious questions about how prepared they really were.

Then came the biggest surprise of the session — Russia and Ukraine, two countries currently locked in a high-profile conflict, ended up in the same bloc. That’s right, the same one. For a moment, it was hard to tell if the committee was simulating diplomacy or rewriting the rules of geopolitics on the fly. The irony wasn’t lost on anyone — delegates exchanged looks, and jaws dropped. While Ukraine focused on an ambitious plan to use drones for delivering humanitarian aid, Russia, on the other hand, caught everyone’s attention by openly admitting they were supplying weapons to the RSF. In a committee dedicated to public health and humanitarian response, that kind of admission felt wildly out of place.

Jusdrin K. Andieman

CNN