Country Struggles with 35% of Global Cholera Cases as Economic and Healthcare Systems Crumble
Yemen, already devastated by over a decade of conflict and economic turmoil, is now facing an escalating cholera epidemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the country accounted for 35% of the world’s cholera cases as of December 1, 2024, with nearly 250,000 suspected cases and 861 related deaths. These staggering figures highlight the gravity of Yemen’s health crisis, which is compounded by a crumbling healthcare infrastructure and ongoing humanitarian struggles.
The cholera crisis comes as a fresh blow to a nation already reeling from the consequences of years of war. Despite Yemen’s prior battle with cholera, which peaked between 2017 and 2020, the disease has persisted, with new outbreaks emerging regularly. Experts warn that without immediate intervention, Yemen could see a repeat of its devastating earlier epidemic.
Cholera in Yemen: A Legacy of Conflict and Healthcare Collapse
Yemen’s public health system has been crippled by more than a decade of armed conflict, leaving the population vulnerable to preventable diseases like cholera. The country’s infrastructure has suffered immense damage, making it harder for citizens to access clean water, proper sanitation, and healthcare services. With the war still ongoing, vital resources remain scarce, and health services struggle to meet the growing demands of the population.
The outbreak of waterborne diseases such as cholera and acute watery diarrhoea adds further strain to an already overburdened healthcare system. Arturo Pesigan, WHO Representative in Yemen, stated that the cholera outbreak is just one more challenge in a country facing multiple disease outbreaks at once. This is especially troubling, given the limited capacity of Yemen’s health infrastructure to handle such a crisis.
Health Crisis Worsens with Limited Access to Clean Water and Sanitation
The primary drivers behind Yemen’s cholera epidemic are inadequate access to clean drinking water, poor sanitation, and the limited availability of medical treatments. Cholera spreads quickly in areas where water supply and hygiene conditions are poor, and these issues are rampant in Yemen due to the ongoing conflict. The country’s health system is stretched thin, with many areas lacking the necessary resources to treat the growing number of patients.
In addition to these basic challenges, Yemen’s hospitals and clinics are facing severe shortages of staff, equipment, and medical supplies. Many health facilities have been damaged or destroyed in the fighting, further limiting the country’s ability to respond to the epidemic. In this context, cholera is just one of many diseases that Yemeni citizens are battling, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive healthcare support.
Lack of Funding Puts Response Efforts in Jeopardy
Perhaps one of the most critical challenges in combating Yemen’s cholera crisis is the severe lack of funding. The WHO has highlighted a $20 million funding gap for the country’s cholera response from October 2024 to March 2025. This funding shortage has already forced the closure of essential healthcare services. Between March and November 2024, 47 diarrhoea treatment centres (DTC) and 234 oral rehydration centres (ORC) were closed due to a lack of financial resources.
Even more centres are at risk of closing by the end of the year, with another 17 DTCs and 39 ORCs set to shut down. If this trend continues, Yemen will lose access to a significant portion of its cholera treatment infrastructure, potentially exacerbating the outbreak and pushing the health system beyond its breaking point.
- Key facts about Yemen’s cholera crisis:
- 35% of global cholera cases in 2024 are in Yemen.
- Over 250,000 suspected cases and 861 deaths as of December 1, 2024.
- $20 million funding gap for cholera response, leading to widespread treatment centre closures.
Humanitarian Assistance in Crisis: A Struggling Population
Yemen’s cholera crisis is only one aspect of the broader humanitarian emergency facing the country. The ongoing conflict has left nearly half of the population in need of some form of humanitarian assistance, with 11.2 million people requiring urgent aid. In addition to the cholera outbreak, food insecurity affects 17.6 million people, and nearly half of all children under the age of five suffer from moderate to severe stunting, according to WHO.
The humanitarian situation in Yemen is dire, and the challenges of responding to health crises like cholera are exacerbated by the lack of funding, limited access to critical services, and the ongoing violence that continues to plague the country.
