Aden – Yemen is grappling with one of the world’s worst cholera outbreaks, as contaminated water sources and a crumbling healthcare infrastructure fuel a relentless surge in infections. 

According to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the country accounted for 35% of global cholera cases and 18% of related deaths in 2024.

The IRC recently concluded an eight-month emergency response, warning that without sustained international support, Yemen remains dangerously exposed to future epidemics.

The organization treated thousands of patients across cholera hotspots but emphasized that the underlying causes—poor sanitation, lack of clean water, and systemic healthcare collapse—remain unaddressed.

November 2024 saw a sharp increase in cholera cases, with suspected infections rising by 37% and deaths by 27% compared to the same period in 2023. 

Hospitals in cities like Aden and Taiz are overwhelmed, operating with limited staff, scarce medical supplies, and unreliable electricity. Many rural areas lack any functioning health facilities, leaving infected individuals without access to life-saving treatment.

The WHO has classified cholera as a Grade 3 global public health emergency, the highest level of alert, citing Yemen as a key epicenter. The disease, which spreads rapidly through contaminated water and food, poses a particular threat to children and displaced populations living in overcrowded camps.

Humanitarian agencies are calling for urgent investment in water purification systems, sanitation infrastructure, and healthcare rehabilitation. 

Without these interventions, experts warn that the outbreak could escalate further, compounding Yemen’s already dire humanitarian crisis.