United Nations: Polio cases in Yemen have risen to 257 cases

A recent UN statistic revealed that polio cases in Yemen increased to 257 cases during the last four years, as a result of the Houthis preventing vaccines in areas under their control.

This came in a statement by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), coinciding with the second round of the polio vaccination campaign that was launched in areas controlled by the legitimate government last Monday.

The organization said that it launched, with the Ministry of Health and Population and in cooperation with the World Health Organization, a vaccination campaign in 12 Yemeni governorates targeting 1.3 million children, with the aim of stopping the increasing spread of type 2 of circulating mutated polio virus (cVDPV2). During this campaign, children will also receive vitamin A supplements to enhance their natural immunity against diseases.

She added that this is the second vaccination campaign in response to the outbreak of the cVDPV2 polio virus, which has paralyzed 257 children in Yemen so far.

Dr. Arturo Pesegan, WHO Representative in Yemen, said: “This campaign is a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to stop the spread of polio, which can cause permanent paralysis in children.”

He added: "Polio infection can lead to permanent, debilitating paralysis for which there is no known cure, but it can be easily prevented through vaccination."

For his part, UNICEF Representative in Yemen, Peter Hawkins, said, “Vaccination is the only way to prevent children from contracting polio. It is not just an investment in the well-being of vulnerable children but also in the economy and future of the country. By joining with the government, religious leaders, and donors, "And the media, frontline workers, communities, and parents, we will continue our fight to eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases."

In late April, the World Health Organization announced in a report that 237 cases of polio infection had been recorded in Yemen during the years 2021-2023, which means that 20 new cases were recorded during this year.

In recent years, a number of viral diseases and epidemics have resumed their spread, especially in areas controlled by the Houthi militia, as a result of the collapse of the health system and the obstacles that the militia places in front of vaccination campaigns.

On more than one occasion, the Yemeni government has warned of the consequences of preventing the Houthi militia from receiving vaccines and its impact on the spread of epidemics and viruses throughout the country and neighboring countries, calling on the international community to exert sufficient pressure on the militia to lift the ban on vaccination campaigns.