Yemen: World’s Largest Cholera Outbreak Crosses One Million Cases

According to international agencies, the suspected cholera cases in war-ravaged Yemen has now crossed one million, calling for greater efforts by the international community to tackle the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the country. The war has also left more than 80 percent of the population short of food, fuel, clean water and access to healthcare, notes Geneva-based International Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC). 

“The epidemic is not yet over and more concerted efforts need to be deployed to ensure that it is controlled in the immediate term and prevented from reoccurring in the near future,” said World Health Organisation (WHO) spokesperson Tarik Jašarevic in a press briefing in Geneva.

The cholera outbreak began in April and spread rapidly, killing 2,227 people. The war in Yemen between the Sunni Arab states coalition and Shia majority Houthi rebels has already claimed around 10,000 lives.

According to experts, a new wave of cholera is expected in March or April. "It's probably unavoidable. We need to be ready to face another big epidemic," said Mr Poncin, Yemen emergency coordinator for aid agency Médecins Sans Frontières. He further added that cholera may become a long-term burden as it has in Haiti. "The places where the war is active are the ones most at risk for an increase of disease.”

Adding to the cholera outbreak are the rising diphtheria cases and there is a global shortage of diphtheria anti-toxin. The diphtheria outbreaks have already affected 18 of its 22 governorates in Yemen. According to WHO, as of December 21, 2017, there were 35 deaths among suspected diphtheria cases and fourteen of the deaths occurred in children under five years old.

As the United States backed Saudi Arabia military coalition continues its partial air and sea blockade in Yemen, the United Nations said that the country is suffering from the world's worst humanitarian crisis, and eight million people are on the brink of famine. The continued airstrike by the coalition in Yemen has further exacerbated the humanitarian situation.  

“For 1,000 days, huge amounts of sophisticated modern weapons have pounded Yemen, and on top of that we are now witnessing a medieval siege where mass starvation is being used as a weapon of war”, said Mark Goldring, Oxfam GB Chief Executive. 

Cutting off vital food, fuel and medicine to a population is never justified and should never be tolerated. It is a tactic that is devoid of any sense of decency, any sense of morality and any sense of humanity.”