Amid the internal conflict in Yemen, hospitals and health facilities have become non-functional, resulting in the loss of lives, particularly among pregnant women and babies, a UN official has reported.
Hicham Nahro, the deputy representative of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Yemen, disclosed that less than 50% of hospitals and health facilities in the country are operational, with only one-fifth of them offering maternal and neonatal care services.
Accessibility to urban maternity hospitals and health centers is hindered for pregnant women due to factors such as frequent displacement and residing in rural and remote areas, Nahro highlighted. Financial constraints further exacerbate the situation, as families in rural regions often cannot afford hospital expenses or transportation to urban centers.
Nahro emphasized the dire circumstances faced by some pregnant women, who attempt to reach hospitals on foot or by riding camels for extended periods of 7-8 hours.
While the UNFPA reached approximately three million Yemeni women and girls last year, Nahro stressed the continued need for assistance to ensure a healthy pregnancy process in the country.
He cautioned that 5.5 million women in Yemen lack access to or have very limited access to reproductive health services, with 2.7 million pregnant and lactating women suffering from acute malnutrition.
Yemen has been embroiled in civil war since 2014, when Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized control of significant portions of the country, including the capital, Sanaa. This conflict has prompted the internationally recognized government to establish an interim capital in the coastal city of Aden.
The UN estimates that in 2024, over 18 million people—more than half of Yemen's population—will require humanitarian assistance and protection services. Additionally, 17.6 million people are projected to experience severe food insecurity, with approximately 2.7 million women and five million children under five requiring treatment for acute malnutrition, according to UN data.
News ID : 2967