The United Nations (UN) has warned that Yemen is facing a health catastrophe due to the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
A UN statement pointed out gaps in the organization’s funding threatening to suspend critical relief programs in the country.
Robert Colville, spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), said during a press briefing held today in Geneva, Switzerland, that the world organization has deep concern at the fragile health situation in Yemen.
Colville warns that the country’s health care system is “on the verge of collapse.”
Colville stressed that 24 million people in Yemen need immediate humanitarian aid.
The UN official stressed that hospitals in Yemen are no longer receiving people who have symptoms of the Coronavirus due to a lack of beds, medicines, medical personnel and clean water.
The official suggested that the true number of cases of the Coronavirus in Yemen exceeds significantly the official toll that has so far reached 591 cases, indicating that the disease sweeps mainly in the northern areas under the control of the Houthi group which is known locally as “Ansar Allah-ardent supporters of Allah.”
The official continued: “We have fears of losing very large numbers of lives, not only because of” COVID-19 “, but also due to malaria, cholera, dengue and other diseases.”
He stated that the United Nations will have to suspend more than 30 of the 41 relief programs it runs in Yemen within the next few weeks unless additional funding is secured for them.
He calls on the international donors to provide urgent assistance to millions of Yemenis who have gone through five years of war.
On the other hand, Jens Larquet spokesman for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, indicated that only 47% of the $ 1.35 billion pledged aids for Yemen had been paid in early June, which is less than one billion dollars than the target.
In turn, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) spokeswoman, Marixi Mercado, confirmed that the failure of the organization to receive $ 30 million by the end of June would lead to the suspension of water, public health and health care services for four million people in Yemen in July.
The spokeswoman pointed out that her organization has received only about 10% of the 53 million it requests for anti-“COVID-19” operations, which reduces its ability to provide protective equipment and medical supplies.
