WHO: 280 measles deaths in Yemen since the beginning of 2024

The World Health Organization announced, on Wednesday, that 280 deaths from measles have been recorded in Yemen since the beginning of 2024.

The organization's office in Yemen said, "The country is facing an outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio, acute watery diarrhea, cholera, measles, diphtheria, malaria and dengue fever."

He added in a statement that "since the beginning of this year, 33,000 suspected cases of measles have been reported, with 280 deaths due to the disease itself."

This comes "as food insecurity in Yemen worsens, with nearly half of households now struggling to get enough food," according to the same source.

The statement said, "The World Health Organization has signed a €3.4 million agreement with the German government to maintain life-saving health and nutrition services in Yemen."

This initiative came as Yemen faces a protracted level 3 emergency, the highest level of health emergency for the international organization, according to the same statement.

On July 10, the Yemeni government announced a 70 percent decrease in international funding for the health sector.

For more than two years, Yemen has been witnessing a lull in a war that began about 10 years ago between forces loyal to the legitimate government and the Houthi group, which has controlled governorates and cities, including the capital, Sanaa (north), since September 21, 2014.

The war has destroyed most sectors in Yemen, especially the health sector, and caused one of the most catastrophic humanitarian crises in the world, according to the United Nations.

Source: Anadolu Agency