When COVID-19 hit Yemen: dealing with the pandemic in a country under pressure from the world’s worst humanitarian crisis

Abstract

A recent history of internal conflict in Yemen has left the country in shambles,

with much of its infrastructure and healthcare system destroyed. The UN

considers the situation in Yemen to be the world’s worst humanitarian crisis,

with more than 80% of the population – 24 million people, including 12

million children – dependent on humanitarian aid for basic needs including

food and clean water, as well as healthcare. In the aftermath of a devastating

civil war, the spread of COVID-19 has hit the country hard, exacerbating an

already dire situation in which the Yemeni people face daily challenges from

food insecurity, lack of sanitation infrastructure, continuing conflict and

outbreaks of infectious disease. A cholera outbreak, ongoing since 2016, has

claimed nearly 1.5 million lives. The situation is made worse by a lack of

medical equipment and, most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. With only

50% of Yemeni hospitals and medical facilities in full working condition, the

country is in desperate need of medical equipment, healthcare workers and

money to ensure conditions do not deteriorate further in the coming months.