South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund

Recently supported emergencies

2 December 2025

WHO provides emergency funds to scale up health response in cyclone-hit Sri Lanka

Earthquake in Nepal 2023

SEARHEF supported immediate response for earthquake that hit Karnali Province of Nepal on 3 November 2023. SEARHEF was utilized to provide life-saving services and minimize disabilities.

Tropical Cyclone Seroja: Timor-Leste

SEARHEF supported the continuous provision of essential health services and infection prevention and control measures as health response during Tropical Cyclone Seroja in Timor-Leste in April 2021.

COVID-19 Pandemic response: Maldives

SEARHEF supported Maldives to strengthen the COVID-19 response in 2020 and released US$ 175 000 to improve laboratory infrastructure and training of health staff in surveillance, case investigation and rapid response.

COVID-19 Pandemic response: Thailand

Thailand was the first country outside of China to report a case of COVID-19. First tranche of US$ 175 000 was rapidly mobilized to support country’s response in early 2020. This helped to quickly initiate essential actions as part of the COVID-19 Pandemic response.

SEARHEF, Regional Committee Resolutions and Decisions for South-East Asia

News

10 February 2025

News release

WHO thanks Nepal for its contribution to South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund

The World Health Organization South-East Asia Region today thanked the Ministry of Health and Population, Government of Nepal, for contributing Nepalese Rupees 1500 000, approximat ...

12 July 2024

Departmental update

13th Meeting of the SEARHEF Working Group, 02 July 2024

The thirteenth meeting of the Working Group for governance of the South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund was conducted via video link on 2 July 2024. The nominated Working ...

Protecting Health in initial hours of Crisis. The South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) bridges the critical gap between onset of emergencies and arrival of larger humanitarian support – ensuring Member States* can act when it matters most.

Leaders talk