Yemen Facing ‘Critical Shortages’ of Hospitals and Doctors, WHO Warns

More than half of all of Yemen’s health facilities are closed or partially functioning, according to a survey by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that warns that a lack of adequate healthcare may cause disease outbreaks.

Yemen has a insufficient number of medical doctors in more than 40% of all districts says WHO. Out of the 3507 surveyed health facilities, only 1579 (45%) are fully functional and 1343 (38%) are partially functional.

The country has been torn apart due to a 18-month conflict between the Houthi rebel movement and forces loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, which are backed by the Saudi-led multinational coalition. The conflict has killed more than 7,000 people, injured 36,818 and brought the country to the brink of famine.

The violence has also led to 274 health facilities to be damaged and at least 14 million people need urgent health services. “These critical shortages in health services mean that more people are deprived of access to life-saving interventions.” WHO said in a statement.