Yemen’s Minister of Public Health and Population, Qasim Buhaibeh, met with Hanan Balkhi, the Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Eastern Mediterranean, on Thursday to discuss ways to enhance cooperation and support for the health sector in Yemen.

The meeting took place during the 71st session of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office in Doha, Qatar. Buhaibeh highlighted the severe challenges facing Yemen's health sector, exacerbated by nearly a decade of ongoing conflict.

He praised the pivotal role of the WHO in supporting health initiatives in the country and invited Balkhi to visit Yemen to gain a firsthand understanding of the health situation.

In response, Balkhi reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to prioritizing health conditions in Yemen and emphasized the importance of continued collaborative efforts to enhance the health sector in the region.

Yemen has been embroiled in a protracted war for ten consecutive years, leading to the devastation of most sectors, including healthcare, and resulting in one of the largest humanitarian crises globally, as described by the United Nations.