According to Human Rights Watch, coronavirus represents an imminent danger to the population in Yemen. There has only been one confirmed case as of 14 April, but it is predicted that Yemen faces an inevitable outbreak as the main healthcare systems have been devastated by the current war. Several other diseases such as cholera, diphtheria, measles, and dengue fever have spread amid the five-year war that has left the country with weakened healthcare institutions. More than half of Yemen’s health care facilities are closed or only partially functioning.

The war in Yemen, fought between Saudi-led coalitions and the rebel Houthi armed group, has raged for over five years. Both parties have targeted healthcare infrastructure through air strikes or bombings in attempts to get the other side to surrender. This has caused medical personnel to flee the country, leaving Yemen susceptible to an outbreak of coronavirus. Additionally, it is predicted that managing COVID-19 data will be difficult amid the conflict.

Humanitarian groups have said that distributing aid will be nearly impossible as both the Saudi coalition and Houthi army are continuing to block aid. Human Rights Watch has called on both parties to take immediate action to protect civilians in the areas they control. The UN has announced a Saudi-led ceasefire to try to contain coronavirus. 

To read more, visit:

https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/14/covid-19-yemen-perfect-storm

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/10/yemen-confirms-first-coronavirus-case-war-torn-country

https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/04/1061422

Author: Vito Quaglia; Editor: Rachel Warner