MSF teams in Yemen are still receiving and treating a growing number of cholera and acute watery diarrhoea patients in the governorates of Amran, Hajja, Al-Dhale’, Taiz, and Ibb. Nearly 3100 cases were received at MSF cholera treatment centres from March 30th to May 17th. The disease has now been identified in 18 out of the 22 Yemeni governorates according to the Yemeni Ministry of Public Health and Population. The number of suspected cases had already exceeded 17000 on May 17th, according to the ministry.

Following this new cholera outbreak, MSF has set up cholera treatment centres within five hospitals to isolate and treat patients presenting symptoms, and is supporting other structures run by health authorities.

Since the beginning of the current war in March 2015, many hospitals have stopped working due to the conflict. Access to healthcare has become very difficult for millions of people in Yemen and a number of health facilities have stopped functioning due to the lack of operating budget. In addition, salaries for staff have not been paid since September 2016. With the severely weakened Yemeni health system, MSF fears that health authorities alone will not be able to deal with the outbreak.

MSF calls on international organizations to scale up their assistance urgently to limit the spread of the outbreak and anticipate potential other ones.