2 February 2021 – Children are among the most impacted by the ongoing conflict and its consequences on health care services. Thanks to Germany’s support, WHO and INTERSOS have been able to provide them with life-saving medical care.

A country hammered by years of conflict, Yemen has been marked as the world's worst humanitarian catastrophe, with nearly 24.3 million people – 80% of the population – in need of humanitarian assistance in 2020. The health system has worsened amid the crisis, and 17.9 million people needed health care services in 2020. At the same time, only half of the health facilities are fully or partially functioning. Those that remain open lack the bare necessities like fuel, water, essential medical supplies, and qualified health staff.

With the Government of Germany's support, the World Health Organization (WHO) and INTERSOS are working together to support 6 health facilities in Far Al-Udayn and Hazm Al-Udayn districts in Ibb governorate. The support entails providing emergency primary and secondary health and nutrition services and reinforcing outreach and referral mechanisms with a network of community health volunteers.

The partnership aims to reduce morbidity and mortality of the most vulnerable conflict-affected populations, focusing on children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women.

Yazid, an 11-year-old boy, lives with his family in Hayran, a village in Far Al-Udayn district. In October 2020, he was brought to Al-Mazhan District Hospital after suffering for 3 days from high fever, persistent vomiting, joint pain, and hematuria. The boy was found to have malaria. He was admitted to the inpatient department, where he received anti-malarial treatment, including intravenous therapy and other necessary medications. The boy's condition was continuously followed up by doctors and health staff at the health facility until he fully recovered a few days after being admitted.

Malaria is one of the infectious diseases for which the WHO-INTERSOS partnership supports health facilities in Ibb governorate. The region has recently witnessed a significant spread of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases, making support to local health facilities even more crucial.

"After 6 years of war, we all suffer from the effects of the difficult humanitarian situation. We hope the world will look at us", wishes Mohammed Muharram, a Yemeni Health Supervisor at INTERSOS. "We thank WHO and all colleagues working with us for their great commitment towards the good of the Yemeni people," he said.

Hail is a 4-year-old boy who lives with his family in Al-Dashen village, Hazm Al-Udayn district. Early October, his mother took him to Bani Assad Health Centre because he had been suffering from intermittent watery green diarrhoea. The medical investigation found signs of improper feeding, probably related to the socioeconomic vulnerability of the family. His anthropometric measurements were 11.1 kg of weight, 96.1 cm of height MUAC of 13.3 cm and Z-score below -3. INTERSOS nutrition team at the health facility provided Hail's mother with therapeutic food and medicines, advising her about how to administer them to her son. A community health volunteer visited the boy at home regularly to monitor his recovery. After 4 weeks of treatment, Hail regained his appetite. His anthropometric measurements gradually improved to 11.5 kg, 96.1 cm height, 13.5 cm MUAC and Z-score.

Thanks to Germany’s support, WHO and INTERSOS have supported the provision of nutrition services to internally displaced people and host communities at the primary health care centre level as part of their joint nutrition response. Children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women are screened and referred to relevant nutrition programmes in the health facilities, while community health volunteers ensure malnutrition's screening and referral, as well as sensitization on health, nutrition and infant and young child feeding at the community level.

Abdullah is a 10-year-old boy from Al-Sana village in Hazm Al-Udayn district. In November, his parents took him to Bani Wa'il Health Centre because he suffered from a large swelling on his left arm. After minor surgery to remove the swelling, Abdullah left the facility on the same day, being advised to return regularly for dressing and follow-up. His parents received the necessary medications to prevent secondary infection. A few days later, Abdullah had completely recovered and was again able to play with his friends.

Cairo, 27  January 2021 – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) have joined forces in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in Yemen through a new project to support COVID-19 preparedness and response.

Under this new award, WHO will work with the Ministry of Public Health and Population to enable rapid detection and response to COVID-19 cases and clusters, including through an integrated, multisectoral coordination system at central and governorate levels and support to emergency operation centres (EOCs) across the country. Twenty-six main entry points to Yemen will be equipped to enable rapid COVID-19 detection.

Thanks to this partnership, critical support will continue to be provided to surveillance by supporting COVID-19 rapid response teams in high-priority districts. Furthermore, additional support will be provided to 1991 sentinel sites reporting through the Electronic Integrated Disease Early Warning System (EIDEWS). This surveillance system collects information on epidemic-prone diseases to trigger prompt public health interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality through early detection and rapid response to disease outbreaks, including COVID-19.

The joint project will also enhance the testing capacity of central public health laboratories throughout the country and support the prevention of COVID-19 transmission in health and non-health settings. Multifaceted support to health facilities will improve their capacity to receive COVD-19 patients by providing medical supplies and equipment and case management training for health workers.

"Thanks to this new contribution from KSrelief, WHO will be able to provide comprehensive support to the national COVID-19 response. It is particularity timely as WHO and health partners are preparing for a potential new spike in infections," said Dr Adham Ismail, WHO Representative in Yemen.

Funded at US$ 13 million, the project is part of a broader US$ 46 million agreement between the 2 organizations, signed in September 2020, that also included 3 other projects on nutrition, water and environmental sanitation services, and delivery of essential health services.

KSrelief has been the main funding partner of WHO Yemen in 2019–2020. Since October 2019, the partnership between the 2 organizations has helped preserve Yemen's health system, including through support to the most vulnerable. Continuous support from KSrelief has allowed WHO to facilitate the provision of life-saving medicines, including treatment for patients with chronic, life-threatening conditions, such as cancer and kidney failure. The partnership has also supported maternal and child health, including assistance to pregnant women for safe birth deliveries.

About the humanitarian crisis in Yemen

Yemen remains the world's worst humanitarian crisis and the WHO's most complex operation. Some 24.3 million people – 80% of the population – needed humanitarian assistance or protection in 2020.

The health system is on the brink of collapse. More than 17.9 million people (out of the total population of 30 million) needed health care services in 2020. At the same time, only half of the health facilities are fully or partially functioning. Those that remain open lack qualified health staff, essential medicines and medical equipment, such as masks and gloves, oxygen and other necessary supplies.

COVID-19 is underlying Yemen' public health vulnerabilities. As of 26 January 2021, Yemen's health authorities have reported 2122 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 616 associated deaths. Health partners are concerned that underreporting continues in some areas of the country due to a lack of testing facilities, delays in seeking treatment, stigma, difficulty accessing treatment centres or the perceived risks of seeking care. Moreover, it can indicate the large asymptomatic infections that are yet to be detected in the country.  Health partners on the ground continue working towards increasing surveillance; deploying dedicated COVID-19 staff within agencies; tracking the virus's impact on routine priority health programmes; refining messaging to encourage behavioural change; and boosting intensive care unit (ICU) capacity. 

Sana'a, 19 January 2021 - The World Health Organization (WHO) office in Yemen denies what has been reported in local media about its intention to stop its support to Yemen's health facilities with the fuel needed to operate them.

The office confirms that despite severe funding shortages, the necessary financial resources have been mobilized already to supply all 105 health facilities supported in 2020 with fuel until mid-February at least. Furthermore, 42 health facilities, most of them in the northern governorates of Yemen, will be provided with the needed fuel during the remainder of the year.

The office continues to discuss with donor partners ways to provide fuel for the remaining health facilities. At the same time, it is looking with health authorities into all funding scenarios, their potential implications and available options to ensure the continuity of this vital support for health facilities across Yemen.