Recent research reveals that HIV cases have more than doubled in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) over the past decade. According to a report by the charity Frontline AIDS, new HIV infections in five countries – Jordan, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, and Lebanon – have risen by 116 per cent since 2010, with projections indicating further increases. Ongoing conflicts, displacement, and high levels of stigma, including laws criminalising homosexuality, have created significant barriers to accessing HIV prevention and treatment in the region.
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In 2023, at least 22,962 new cases of HIV were recorded in the MENA region, compared to fewer than 11,000 cases in 2010. This sharp rise contrasts with global trends, where new HIV infections have decreased by 39 per cent during the same period. Frontline AIDS warns that, without urgent investment and action, the epidemic in MENA could escalate at an unprecedented rate. “This is a crisis. The MENA region is being left behind,” said Golda Eid, Programmes Lead at Frontline AIDS.
The report further highlights that limited political will and insufficient funding to tackle HIV in the region are key factors contributing to the rise in infections. Dr Mohammed El Khammas, Head of International Actions at the Association for the Fight Against AIDS, suggests that the actual number of cases may be much higher than reported due to limited testing coverage and the lack of accurate data on affected populations. Despite this surge, MENA received less than one per cent of global HIV funding in 2023, resulting in an 85 per cent shortfall in resources needed for an effective HIV response.
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As the global community faces challenges with HIV funding, experts have warned that cuts to US and UK aid programmes could trigger a further rise in HIV cases, particularly in Africa. “The current cuts to Pepfar and USAID-supported programmes have already disrupted access to essential HIV services,” stated Dr Debra ten Brink, a scientist at Australia’s Burnet Institute. Frontline AIDS is now calling for stronger political leadership, increased funding, and the integration of HIV into general humanitarian responses to reduce the surge in infections.
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