At a glance
Continuing conflict may result in the complete collapse of Yemen’s health system.
More than 15.2 million people lack access to health services.
For the past 10 months, partners have been increasingly reliant on the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the sole providers of medical supplies in the country.
Situation update
The intensification of conflict in Yemen since March 2015 has pushed Yemen’s already weakened health system to the brink of collapse.
Insecurity, power shortages and a lack of fuel (for generators and ambulances) have led to the closure of almost one in four health facilities. Not only are health workers among the 2.3 million people displaced, but the procurement and distribution of medicines and medical supplies has been disrupted. In addition, economic factors are taking a toll on the Ministry of Health’s ability to fund the continued operation of health facilities and individuals’ ability to pay to access them.
As a result, 15.2 million people currently lack access to health care and the conflict looks unlikely to abate any time soon. A one-two punch of successive cyclones has also added to the strain, displacing an extra 44 000 people and increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases such as dengue fever and malaria.