Barran Press
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported a severe cholera outbreak in Yemen, revealing that the disease has claimed the lives of 680 individuals between March and September 2024. During this six-month period, approximately 186,000 suspected cholera cases were recorded across the country.
In its monthly update, OCHA highlighted the continued spread of acute watery diarrhea, emphasizing that children under five and the elderly account for a quarter of all cases. The report indicates that the outbreak has persisted for six months, affecting all 22 provinces in Yemen.
Statistics from the Yemeni Ministry of Public Health and Population, as cited in the UN report, show a cumulative total of over 186,000 suspected cholera cases since mid-March, with reported deaths exceeding 680. The highest rates of infection were noted in western provinces under Houthi control.
The figures represent a significant increase in both fatalities and infections compared to earlier this year. Data collected by relief agencies indicated that from January 1 to July 19, approximately 95,000 suspected cases were reported, leading to at least 258 deaths.
Recent data also identified hotspots in the provinces of Dhale, Hodeidah, Marib, and Al-Jawf, which are partially controlled by the Houthis, as well as in Al-Bayda, Amran, Hajjah, and Raymah, fully under Houthi control.
The UN anticipates a further rise in reported cases following heavy rains across the country, highlighting that malnourished children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with chronic health conditions are particularly vulnerable to cholera.
Children under five represent 16% of all suspected cases and 18% of deaths, while individuals over 60 account for nearly 10% of cases and 36% of fatalities, according to UN data.
The health situation in Yemen has deteriorated due to recent heavy rains and subsequent flooding, which impacted over 76,800 families in July and August.
In early August, Human Rights Watch condemned the Houthi group's obstruction of relief efforts, exacerbating the deadly cholera outbreak. The organization accused the Houthis of hindering aid access and failing to implement adequate preventive measures against the spread of cholera, as well as detaining and threatening civil society workers, including humanitarian aid staff.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the cholera outbreak in Yemen from 2016 to 2022 resulted in 2.5 million suspected cases, marking the largest cholera outbreak reported in modern history, with over 4,000 deaths recorded during that period. The ongoing humanitarian crisis stems from the Houthi takeover in 2014, which led to the collapse of health and water sectors across the nation.