The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned this Thursday that Yemen's healthcare system is "on the brink of collapse" due to the resurgence of clashes between Houthi rebels and the internationally recognized government forces supported by Saudi Arabia, in a country where nearly 20 million people need medical assistance.
"The escalation of violence in Yemen is causing more casualties and displacements, pushing an already fragile healthcare system to the brink of collapse," he noted on his social media.
He explained that the fighting, along with the difficulties in reaching the hardest-hit areas and the lack of funding, are "severely" restricting the UN agency's ability to care for the injured. In his message, Tedros urged all parties in conflict to respect and protect healthcare personnel and medical facilities.
In this regard, the head of the WHO demanded that "safe and unhindered access for humanitarian partners be guaranteed and that international support be increased to meet rapidly growing needs."
United Nations data indicates that about 17.8 million people lack adequate health, water, and sanitation services, and that only 60% of medical centers are operating at full capacity in Yemen.
On the military front, the Houthis have launched an offensive in areas of the provinces of Taiz and Hodeida and have achieved significant territorial gains, including control of the city of Mocha and areas near the Bab el Mandeb strait, which represents a severe setback for the internationally recognized authorities backed by Saudi Arabia.
These advances strengthen the rebels' ability to influence maritime traffic in Bab el Mandeb --something they have already promised not to do-- a step whose relevance has grown following disruptions to transit in the Strait of Hormuz after the offensive launched on February 28 by the United States and Israel against Iran.
The deterioration of the situation on the ground jeopardizes the maintenance of the truce sealed in 2022, after years of war and despite the United Nations' mediation efforts to close a peace agreement that would end the conflict that began in 2014, which has led the country to one of the world's most severe international crises.