WHO says Yemen health response needs $31 million as funding gap widens

The World Health Organization said significantly more resources are needed to scale up its health response in Yemen, according to a UN News report published on 7 October. WHO said its immediate funding requirements have increased from $9 million to $31 million, and that an additional $700,000 is needed to support refugees in Djibouti. "The situation is evolving into a complex emergency, with health needs rising as resources are already severely stretched," said Dr. Syed Jaffar Hussain, WHO Representative in Yemen.

More than 200,000 people have been displaced, according to the UN migration agency IOM, and UN News reported that close to 3,800 have fled to Djibouti across the Red Sea. WHO cited a figure of nearly 198,000 people uprooted. As of 2 October, the Yemeni health authorities reported 959 deaths and 4,207 injuries across 10 governorates. UN News reported that fighting has mainly occurred on the coast in Lahj governorate near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, in neighbouring Taiz governorate and in Marib governorate in northern Yemen.

WHO said health services in conflict-affected governorates are struggling to cope, and that nearly half of health facilities in these areas lack partner support, with critical gaps in frontline trauma care and outpatient services. "For people with severe injuries, access to trauma care within the first hour can determine whether they survive," Dr. Hussain said. He said trauma stabilization points on the Lahj coast and in Al-Dhale have no partners to operate them. WHO said that of the nearly 198,000 people uprooted, less than one per cent had received health services as of last week.

WHO said hospitals are facing shortages of surgical supplies, anaesthetics, blood-bank materials and fuel, and that delivery of essential supplies is becoming slower and more expensive. Emergency maternity services have been suspended in Marib and in Ras Al-Arah in Lahj governorate, according to the report. WHO reported that cholera cases have tripled in three weeks, including infections detected in displacement camps, while dengue and malaria cases are also rising. It said more than 22,000 suspected measles cases and 128 deaths have been reported this year, and that the coming El Niño is likely to worsen disease outbreaks and malnutrition.

WHO said it is preparing to scale up trauma and emergency care, outbreak response, and essential health services and supplies, including maternal and newborn care. It said it acts as the main health coordinator in Yemen and as the provider of last resort where no partner can deliver services. WHO warned that without urgent additional financing, the gaps between available services and needs will continue to widen.