Hans Henri Kluge’s first term of office as Regional Director for Europe at the World Health Organization (WHO) could hardly have been more eventful. The Belgian doctor took up his post on February 1, 2020, and the coronavirus pandemic spread rapidly just a short time later. As soon as the worst was over, Russia launched a war of aggression against Ukraine – and created a new health challenge. The war in Gaza also demands Kluge’s attention, who is also responsible for Israel in his role. „Four years ago, I took over a quiet region, now it’s in flames,“ he says.