HIGHLIGHTS

A total of 3,378 Health Facilities (17 Governorate Hospitals, 125 District Hospitals, 54 General Hospitals, 21 Specialized Hospitals, 823 Health Centers and 2,338 Health Units) are being supported by Health Cluster Partners.

During the reporting period of November and December 2023, Health Cluster conducted a total of 12 Health Cluster coordination meetings and 9 ad hoc meetings at the National, AoR, and Hub levels (Aden, Al Hudaydah, Ibb/Taizz, Sa’dah, Sana’a, Marib, Hadramout, and West Coast).

Health Cluster conducted and attended over 48 technical meetings, which include but are not limited to ICCM, RCT, TWGs, inter-sectoral, and government meetings. The cluster also conducted 8 field visits and over 70 bilateral meetings with partners, donors, government entities, and stakeholders during the reporting period. Furthermore, the Health Cluster attended/conducted 3 trainings and 2 workshop.

Situation Update

After 8 years of conflict, the situation in Yemen has been deteriorating on all aspects, including the humanitarian situation, which is currently still the worst humanitarian crisis in the World. The impact of the drivers of the crisis is most visible in the growing risk of famine and severe acute malnutrition, disease outbreaks (Polio, Diphtheria, Vector-borne (Dengue & Malaria), Measles), conflict casualties, forced displacement, and reversal of past development gains.

The eight years old conflict and war has resulted in the injury and death of tens of thousands of civilians as well as displacement of millions of people all over the country. This has increased the people’s need for lifesaving and essential health services all over Yemen. According to the Humanitarian Needs Overview of 2023, the number of people in need of health assistance is at a staggering 20.3 million people with 12.9 million people in acute need.

Health Cluster Partners are continuing to support & strengthen the public health system to ensure that essential, life-saving health services are being provided to respond to the urgent health needs of the people of Yemen. However, the shortage in funding during 2022 has caused further deterioration of the current health system. Out of the 398 million USD needed for the health sector in 2022, only 25.8 % was received.

In addition to the health system deterioration, economic deterioration, including the inflation of the Yemeni Rial exchange rate, which broke the 1500 YER/ 1 USD barrier in the South and 530 YeR/1 USD in the North, has further strained the already fragile health system.

The ongoing political momentum seen during the second half of 2022 is a positive factor in terms of reaching the peace that the people of Yemen strongly desire and need. The exchange of prisoners during the holy month of Ramadan was a happy ending to the suffering of hundreds of families all over Yemen. However, the current situation remains fragile, and the health system is in dire support of increasing the support and funds by the donor community.

According to the Polio Eradication initiative, Yemen is currently experiencing an outbreak of Polio (cVDPV1 and cVDPV2) and the outbreak has spread to other countries in the EMRO region.