Why it matters:
The outbreak disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, including children and women, in densely populated areas and displacement camps. Overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited access to medical care have created conditions conducive to rapid disease transmission.
The big picture:
Yemen’s cholera crisis is part of a broader humanitarian emergency driven by blockade, economic collapse, and sanctions imposed by Western countries. International agencies, including the World Health Organization, emphasize the need for increased funding, improved water and sanitation infrastructure, and unhindered delivery of aid to contain the epidemic and protect millions of residents from further health threats. Yemen has experienced repeated cholera outbreaks in the past, with the largest modern epidemic occurring between 2017 and 2020. Airstrikes, blockades, and restrictions on aid delivery have made it extremely difficult to restore water, sanitation, and healthcare infrastructure, hindering efforts to control the disease.
What we're hearing:
The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has warned that "the cholera outbreak has become endemic in Yemen due to its extensive spread, high infection and death rates, and failure to address root causes." The report stressed that "the de facto authorities and parties in Yemen are responsible for maintaining, repairing, and protecting these networks and ensuring access to safe water and sanitation services." It also highlighted that "actual infections and deaths are believed to be much higher due to weak surveillance systems, limited healthcare coverage, and many families’ reluctance to report cases because of the difficulty in accessing medical facilities."
Go deeper:
WHO warns over Yemen cholera outbreak acceleration
F.abedi - seyed mohammad kazemi
