In November, there was a sharp increase in cholera cases and deaths compared to the same period in 2023, when suspected cases increased by 37 percent and deaths by 27 percent.
Yemen’s cholera crisis comes on top of more than a decade of conflict, widespread economic collapse and crumbling health infrastructure. The country also experienced its biggest cholera outbreak in the latest history from 2017 to 2020, with transmission persistent ever since.
So far unprecedented health crisis
“The outbreak of waterborne diseases such as cholera and acutely aqueous diarrhea impose on one Additional burden on an already stressed health system facing several outbreaks“Said Arturo Pesigan, representative of Yemen.
“Who and humanitarian actors are strained in their efforts to meet the increasing needs due to severe financing deficiencies.“
Critical challenges, including inadequate access to clean drinking water, poor sanitation and limited treatment accessibility, burning the current outbreak that said.
Serious financing deficiency
Yemen’s cholera response is facing a $ 20 million financing gap for the response period in October 2024 to March 2025.
The lack of funds has already forced the closure of 47 diarrhea treatment centers (DTC) and 234 oral rehydrator centers (ORC) between March and November.
Another 17 DTCs and 39 orcs are set to close by the end of December, potentially closing 84 percent of DTCs and 62 percent of orcs across the country.
Without immediate financial support, Health Partners warns that Yemen may face another devastating scenario similar to the 2017-2020 outbreak, which overwhelmed its fragile health system.
According to the UN World Health Organization, Yemen carries the highest burden of cholera globally.
Answer effort
Since the emergence of the latest cholera eruption in March 2024, which has worked closely with jemenite authorities, the UN Agency and humanitarian partners to control the outbreak.
The most important endeavors include the implementation of over 25,000 quick response teams to examine alarms and implement control measures. Laboratory genes and supplies also provided 12 key public health laboratories to confirm infections.
It also distributed important drugs, medical supplies and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) Materials for health facilities as well as the training of more than 800 health workers were trained in cholera case treatment and support an oral cholera vaccination campaign that reached 3.2 million people across six governors.
Humanitarian challenges
Cholera crisis is only a facet of Yemen’s wider humanitarian crisis.
The conflict has left 18.2 million people, almost half of the population in need of humanitarian assistance, with 11.2 million planned for aid coverage.
All over the country, about 17.6 million people are influenced by food security, while almost half of all children under five suffer from moderate to severe stunting.
