16 April 2015, Cairo, Egypt -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has delivered critical life-saving medicines, and medical/surgical supplies to Yemen, where fighting has resulted in hundreds killed and thousands injured, and newly displaced up to 100 000 people since March. The shipment, which landed in Sana’a today, contains more than 17 tonnes of medicines and medical/surgical supplies for a total of 41 100 beneficiaries.
“WHO staff in Yemen will work with national health authorities and health partners to make sure that the medicines and medical supplies are immediately disbursed to health facilities in all governorates affected by the violence,” said WHO Representative for Yemen Dr Ahmed Shadoul. “This shipment comes at a critical time when hospitals are experiencing a rapid depletion of their stocks as they witness a surge in the number of injured patients in acute need of life-saving medical and surgical interventions. These additional medicines and supplies will save hundreds of lives.”
As a result of the ongoing fighting in Yemen, health facilities in affected governorates have been reporting critical shortages of life-saving medicines, trauma care, and surgical and medical supplies, as well as in medical staff to cope with the growing influx of patients. Shortages are also being reported in medicines and supplies for managing chronic diseases. With limited access through air and sea ports into the country, local stocks are being rapidly depleted as the needs on the ground continue to grow.
To date, WHO has responded to urgent health needs around the country by providing interagency health kits sufficient for 120 000 beneficiaries for 3 months. The Organization has also provided surgical supply kits for 300 surgical interventions, trauma kits for more than 3200 major operations, 11 000 blood bags, IV fluids, analgesics, oxygen supplies and dressing materials to 18 secondary-level hospitals in the country. WHO, in close coordination with the Ministry of Population and Health is also positioning surgical teams with much needed medical specialities, such as orthopaedics and anaesthesia, to support the mass casualty response in conflict-affected governorates, especially hospitals in remote areas.
For more information, please contact:
Rana Sidani
Senior Communications Officer
WHO Regional Office in Egypt
Direct: +20 2 22765552
Mobile: +20 1099756506
E-mail:
