Yemen faces one of the largest cholera epidemics on record. About 7,000 people fall ill every day, according to the Red Cross.
Yemen is still in the grip of an unprecedented cholera epidemic. According to the latest bulletin from the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 362,500 people have been infected since the end of April. And at least 1,817 deaths have been recorded since this spring.
This record should increase in the coming weeks. The International Committee of the Red Cross (IARC) estimates that one in 45 Yemenis could be affected by this diarrheal disease. By December, 600,000 men, women and children could be affected.
“This terrible cholera epidemic is a preventable man-made humanitarian catastrophe. It is the direct consequence of a conflict which has devastated civilian infrastructure and caused the collapse of the health system, ”said Peter Maurer, President of the ICRC. “I find this unnecessary suffering absolutely intolerable. While the world remains passive, this tragedy is only getting worse, ”he adds.
Ravaged by two years of war, the country has indeed reduced access to drinking water. Sewage systems and water treatment plants have been destroyed, facilitating the spread of cholera.
An epidemic in the midst of war
Added to this is a health system in tatters. Barely 45% of health infrastructures are operational. To remedy these dysfunctions, NGOs and WHO have set up cholera treatment centers for the most ill patients, as well as oral rehydration points.
Tons of medical supplies were also sent. WHO alone has provided 788,000 rehydration infusions and 525 medical beds, which improves patient care and reduces the mortality rate.
However, much remains to be done to stem this epidemic outbreak. “Other deaths could be avoided, but this requires the belligerents to relax restrictions, authorize the importation of medicines, food and essential goods, and show restraint in the way they conduct hostilities” , explains Peter Maurer.
Purify water
Access to drinking water is also a priority. Major sanitation campaigns have been launched by WHO to chlorinate wells and other water sources. At the same time, the NGO Médecins Sans Frontières is distributing disinfection kits containing, in particular, soap, chlorine tablets, brooms and mops.
“Beyond the treatment of patients, we must ensure that their homes are disinfected and that the water sources are purified with chlorine,” explained Cristina Imaz, logistics coordinator for MSF. Clean water distribution points should be set up, and places where people congregate, such as markets or bus stations, should be sprayed with chlorine regularly. However, these activities are not systematic today. “
.
