Humanitarian Situation In Yemen Reaches Catastrophic Levels

The health and humanitarian situation for the civilian population in Yemen has reached catastrophic levels. The situation in some governorates is especially critical: 100 percent of the population of the Aden governorate and more than three quarters in the Taiz governorate are in need of humanitarian assistance. Since September, fighting has intensified in Taiz, and almost 240,000 vulnerable civilians are living under a virtual state of siege.

In other parts of the country, the conflict has crippled the health system, making the delivery of health services and supplies extremely challenging. Almost 70 health facilities and 27 ambulances have been damaged, and there is a shortage of health workers, limiting access to health care.

Dr Ahmed Shadoul, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to Yemen, explained the difficulties involved in the distribution of supplies.

He said “to send supplies, and reach the country whether through personnel or resources or supplies, we have to get the permission of both sides, and get things in. Within the country, distribution of supplies to different parts of the country with all the insecurities that is taking place is another challenge that we are trying to address.”

Currently, WHO and health partners are providing essential medicines, supporting health services and providing mental health psychosocial support in hard-to-reach areas through mobile clinics and primary health care centres. However, more funding is required to ensure that disrupted services are restored.

Dr Shadoul said “the major five areas, interventions that we are targeting during the crisis is insurance of primary health care services all over the country, provision of maternal and child health services, insurance of proper immunization, investigation and surveillance which is a key issue for prevention of outbreaks and at the same time provision of medical supplies and equipment.”

The World Health Organization and health partners are appealing for US$ 31 million to ensure the continuity of health services for nearly 15 million people in Yemen affected by the ongoing conflict. Funding is urgently needed as the Yemeni health system has collapsed, leaving millions of vulnerable people without the care and medications they urgently need.

Dr Shadoul said “in 2015, in fact we received only 53 percent of what we have appeal for, and we have a gap of around 47 percent that is around $30 to $35 million which are crucially, urgently needed in order to fill the gap, essentially for the non-communicable disease like insulin, like disease management of cancer and for diabetic and hypertensive patients.”

Compounding the situation, fuel shortages have made it impossible for many major hospitals and health facilities to function optimally, while lack of fuel for ambulances has crippled the referral process. Surgical operations, including caesarian sections, have been disrupted. Patients whose treatment requires constant power supply are also at risk. Fuel shortages are also are creating severe challenges for the transportation of food, water, and medical supplies, and the operation of water pumps and generators. In response to this, WHO has supplied over one million litres of fuel to health facilities and ambulances to keep them functional. Support has also been provided for the delivery of water purification tablets and over 19 million litres of water to camps and areas hosting internally displaced persons.

Over the past 9 months, WHO has distributed over 250 tonnes of life-saving medical supplies to Yemeni health authorities and international and local nongovernmental organizations, serving more than 7 million beneficiaries. Together with health partners, WHO has vaccinated 4.6 million children against polio and 1.8 million against measles in high-risk areas.
DESCRIPTION
STORY: WHO / YEMEN HEALTH SITUATION
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 15 DECEMBER 2015, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE
SHOTLIST
1. Pan left, WHO Representative for Yemen Ahmed F Shadoul and interviewer walking
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Ahmed F Shadoul, WHO Representative for Yemen:
“To send supplies, and reach the country whether through personnel or resources or supplies, we have to get the permission of both sides, and get things in. Within the country, distribution of supplies to different parts of the country with all the insecurities that is taking place is another challenge that we are trying to address.”

RECENT – YEMEN

3. Various shots, destroyed buildings

15 DECEMBER 2015, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Ahmed F Shadoul, WHO Representative for Yemen:
“There are so many outbreaks, disease outbreaks, that took place in affected areas which are not accessible, there are unfortunately about 2.5 million displaced have been around in different areas in not a well prepared living situation, and this in itself, is a high risk area of mosquito breeding, of outbreaks of malaria, outbreaks of dengue, as what has happened in Aden three months, and in Thais two months ago, and currently it is happening in Shabwa as well.”

RECENT – YEMEN

5. Various shots, child dispensing garbage onto a large pile

15 DECEMBER 2015, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Ahmed F Shadoul, WHO Representative for Yemen:
“The major five areas, interventions that we are targeting during the crisis is insurance of primary health care services all over the country, provision of maternal and child health services, insurance of proper immunization, investigation and surveillance which is a key issue for prevention of outbreaks and at the same time provision of medical supplies and equipment.”

RECENT – YEMEN

7. Various shots, pharmacy

15 DECEMBER 2015, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Ahmed F Shadoul, WHO Representative for Yemen:
“In 2015, in fact we received only 53 percent of what we have appeal for, and we have a gap of around 47 percent that is around $30 to $35 million which are crucially, urgently needed in order to fill the gap, essentially for the non-communicable disease like insulin, like disease management of cancer and for diabetic and hypertensive patients.”
9. Med shot, Shadoul and interviewer talking

DURATION: 02:49