Humanitarian Advisors are increasingly alarmed about the situation in Yemen. Corona virus is spreading rapidly across Yemen, a country already experiencing the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Official Covid-19 case figures stand at 226 cases and 43 deaths. These figures alone point to a concerning 18 percent fatality rate. Globally, it is about six percent. Increased testing is required to provide a true picture of the fatality rate. Like many other countries, testing kits in Yemen are in extremely short supply, and official reports are lagging far behind actual infections.
Official figures indicate that Covid-19 cases have been confirmed in ten of Yemen’s 22 governorates, demonstrating widespread transmission. Testing for Covid-19 and reporting remain limited and it is likely that most, if not all, areas of Yemen are already impacted. People with severe symptoms, like high fevers and distressed breathing, have been turned away from health facilities that were either full or unable to provide safe treatment. Initial reports suggest a much higher rate of severe disease and death than in other countries.
Sanitation and clean water are in short supply across Yemen. Only half of Yemen’s health facilities are functioning. Many functioning health centres lack basic equipment like masks, gloves, oxygen, and other essential supplies to treat patients suffering from Covid-19. Many health workers have no protective gear, and most are receiving no salaries or incentives. In spite of the efforts of local health workers and international humanitarian actors, the health system in Yemen is straining further under the additional pressure of Covid-19.
Children are especially vulnerable. Yemen is already one of the worst places on earth to be a child. After five years of conflict in Yemen, over 12 million children need some kind of humanitarian assistance. Their health, nutrition, safety and education are already at risk as systems collapse from the fighting. As Covid-19 spreads throughout Yemen, these children’s futures will be at even greater risk. These outcomes are almost certainly a result of the conflict. More than five years of war have devastated Yemen’s health infrastructure, subjected Yemenis to repeated disease outbreaks and malnutrition, and substantially increased vulnerabilities.
The situation of vulnerable people like displaced people, migrants and refugees is particularly concerning as they traditionally face barriers when accessing health care while living in harsh conditions. These vulnerable groups are unfairly blamed for disease outbreaks like Covid-19 and cholera.
Humanitarian actors are doing everything possible to help. Wherever possible, humanitarian actors are scaling up the public health measures against Covid-19, including early detection and testing, isolation and treatment of confirmed cases, tracing of contacts. Humanitarian actors are also actively promoting personal hygiene and social and physical distancing; mobilizing life-saving supplies and equipment; and maintaining essential health and humanitarian services.
Humanitarian Advisors call on the authorities – in the north and south of Yemen – to report all Covid-19 cases and all other relevant information transparently, as well as to implement appropriate mitigation and suppression measures. Humanitarian Advisors also call on authorities to take all possible steps to eliminate social stigma around Covid-19, which is preventing people from seeking treatment before it is too late.
Donors have started to signal support, but pledges remain far below what is required, and most still have not been paid. It is clear that the world’s largest aid operation cannot afford extended cuts during this unprecedented emergency. Humanitarian Advisors estimate that actors will need up to $2 billion to cover essential activities for the remainder of 2020.
Humanitarian organisations in Yemen are still delivering the world’s largest relief operation. Covid-may have devastating impacts in many countries, and this is already being experienced in Yemen. The humanitarian community in Yemen assist more than ten million people every month. Millions of people rely on these programs to survive. They are even more essential as the Covid-19 pandemic spreads across Yemen - especially when we recall that hunger, malnutrition, cholera and dengue have not abated. These underlying conditions exacerbate millions of Yemenis’ risk of contracting Covid-19 and make them more susceptible to severe illness.
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