Understanding the disaster profile of WHO-regions is crucial for anticipating future needs for mobilizing emergency medical teams and enhancing healthcare surge during disasters.

This study provides an overview of disaster profile and associated health needs globally and regionally.

Secondary data were retrieved from multiple open data sources. 50-year disaster trends were assessed. Global and regional disaster patterns, cumulative crude and standardized incidence and health impact for the last 16 years were calculated, and regional disparities were compared.

Climate-related disasters have significantly increased globally, especially floods and storms. They, along with droughts, lead to the highest humanitarian needs and displacement, increasing healthcare demands. Conflicts, notably in the Eastern-Mediterranean region, have also increased, causing substantial health impacts.

Epidemics caused the highest morbidity and earthquakes caused the highest mortality, especially in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS), where disaster frequencies per population are significantly higher than in non-FCAS. Storms and extreme temperatures also contribute significantly to disaster-mortality, especially in Southeast-Asia and Europe.

Africa experienced the highest number of disasters, while the Western-Pacific bore the highest crude health impact. However, Southeast-Asia, Eastern-Mediterranean, and African regions - where access to healthcare is limited- showed a higher disaster incidence rate and health impact per 100,000 population. Within regions, disparities are prominent, with some FCAS exhibiting exceptionally high disaster rates and impacts, exceeding regional and global averages.

Investment in regional and national emergency medical teams and equivalent rapid response capacities, adapting tailored strategies to regional disaster profiles, is urgently needed, especially for FCAS in Southeast-Asia, Eastern-Mediterranean, Africa regions.