UN: Health Conditions for Citizens of Yemen’s Key Port City ‘Remain Critical’

Local Editor

The World Health Organization [WHO] said that Yemen’s port city of al-Hudaydah registered the highest incidences of suspected cholera cases of any other; around 14 per cent of those reported nationwide since the start of the crippling epidemic, in April 2017.

In addition to that highly infectious disease, there have been 209 suspected cases of diphtheria and 252 of measles.

“The intensification of fighting in al-Hudaydah endangered not only those directly affected but also the 70 per cent of the population who depended on vital supplies, including health-care supplies, that flowed through al-Hudaydah port, according to WHO’s Tarik Jašarevi?.

“The port constituted a lifeline not only for the city but for all the northern governorates,” he added.

Although fighting has decreased and the port remains operational, from 13 June to 7 July a total of 328 injured and 46 deaths were recorded there, according to local health facilities.

For now, the port remains open and al-Hudaydah can be reached through a narrow passage with many checkpoints, but no blockade, he said.

The WHO spokesperson said its main pillar of operation are trauma care, cholera, malnutrition, and continuity of care.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team