14 June 2016-- On the occasion of the World Blood Donor Day 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls on people all over the world to share life by donating their blood to those who need it. “Blood connects us all” is the theme selected to highlight this year’s Day celebrated worldwide on 14 June. About 6 million blood donations are collected in the Eastern Mediterranean Region every year saving millions of lives. Blood givers, in most cases, are not known to those receiving this gift, however, the bond of life sharing through blood connect them all. On World Blood Donor Day, it is important to highlight the fact that an adequate and safe supply of blood can only be assured through regular donations by voluntary, unpaid blood donors. However, today, less than 60% of the blood supply in the Eastern Mediterranean Region is collected from such donors.  “In many countries, the demand for blood exceeds available supplies. As a result, blood services face challenges in making sufficient blood available, while also ensuring its quality and safety. We urgently need to exert greater effort to fill the gap,” said Dr Ala Alwan, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. WHO is calling on all countries to ensure sufficiency in safe blood and blood products based on 100% voluntary, unpaid donations by 2020.  “World Blood Donor Day is also an opportunity to urge leaders in the health sector to commit to do their utmost to achieve this goal,” Dr Alwan added. The World Blood Donor Day event serves to thank donors who regularly give blood to save the lives of others and to encourage others to begin doing so.  Related links  More about World Blood Donor Day  Regional Director’s message | Arabic Regional Director’s video message | Arabic