WHO calls emergency meeting as Europe battles record heatwave

The World Health Organization will convene an emergency meeting on July 6 to address the ongoing extreme heatwave affecting Europe, as record temperatures continue to grip much of the continent.

The announcement was made by WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge, HLN reports.

Kluge said the meeting is aimed at identifying lessons from the current heatwave and determining what Europe can and should do to improve its preparedness for future episodes of extreme heat.

The WHO also intends to assess the readiness of European Union member states to respond to extreme weather conditions and explore ways to strengthen coordination and cooperation across the region.

Europe has been experiencing an intense heatwave for more than a week, with numerous countries recording unprecedented temperatures as the region faces one of its most severe periods of extreme weather in recent years.

By Vafa Guliyeva