WHO: Nearly 20 million people in Yemen need healthcare

(KUNA) – WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday that approximately 20 million people in Yemen require health assistance, as malnutrition, cholera, measles, polio, and dengue fever threaten the lives of more residents.

In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Ghebreyesus warned of the repercussions of escalating violence and the risk of the collapse of Yemen’s health system, amid mounting casualties and a growing number of displaced persons.

He reaffirmed WHO’s continued support for the Yemeni Ministry of Health, while noting that restrictions on access and funding shortages severely limit its ability to scale up operations and respond to growing needs.

In this context, Ghebreyesus called for the protection of health workers and health facilities, and for ensuring safe and unhindered access for humanitarian partners, urging increased international support to meet the worsening humanitarian and health needs in Yemen.