World Health Organization: Yemen Faces the Worst Cholera Epidemic in the World

The World Health Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations in the field of health, has issued a recent statement saying that the crisis-ridden country of Yemen is "facing the worst cholera epidemic in the world." In the statement released on June 23, the World Health Organization noted that the "rapid epidemic" of cholera in Yemen has now left 200,000 suspected cases of infection. According to this organization, an average of five thousand people are infected with cholera daily, and within two months, cholera has spread to all areas affected by war and conflict. The latest statistics from the United Nations also show that 1,300 people have lost their lives due to cholera in Yemen, with the World Health Organization stating that one-quarter of the victims are children. Anthony Lake, the Executive Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has warned that this number will increase. Less than two weeks ago, UNICEF reported that the number of suspected cholera cases was 124,000, with 923 deaths recorded. This figure has doubled in just two weeks. A UNICEF spokesperson stated on June 13 that "the humanitarian situation is currently horrific and seems to be getting worse, especially for children." The Houthi rebels in Yemen seized the presidential palace in Sana'a at the beginning of 2015. President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi fled to Aden and then to Saudi Arabia. Iranian officials have supported the Houthis. Since April 2015, a coalition led by Saudi Arabia has intervened militarily in Yemen, aiming to restore power to Hadi. Since then, Yemen has been embroiled in a crisis and intensified military conflicts, which have ultimately led to the cholera epidemic as a consequence. The bombing and military intervention of the coalition in Yemen have faced criticism from human rights defenders who are calling for restrictions on the sale and transfer of arms to the member countries of this coalition. On the other hand, NPR reports that Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, who is said to be the architect of the military intervention in Yemen, has recently allocated $66 million in aid for UNICEF and the World Health Organization to combat cholera in Yemen. UNICEF officials have stated in a statement that they are willing to discuss this aid, which could impact the fight against the disease and its epidemic if received. Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae through contaminated water. This bacterium can enter the body by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated vegetables, leading to severe diarrhea and ultimately death. Currently, there are only a few active treatment centers in Yemen, and according to estimates by the United Nations, two-thirds of Yemeni citizens do not have access to clean water.