Yemen has recorded more than 3,000 suspected cases of cholera and acute watery diarrhoea during the first quarter of 2026, according to a recent update by the World Health Organization, highlighting ongoing public health challenges in the conflict-affected country.
The WHO reported a total of 3,177 suspected cases between January 1 and March 29, along with three confirmed deaths linked to the outbreak.
The figures place Yemen among the countries most affected by cholera globally this year, ranking fifth worldwide in the number of reported cases during the same period.
Within the Eastern Mediterranean region, Yemen recorded the second-highest number of infections and deaths after Afghanistan, which reported higher case numbers and fatalities.
Health officials also noted that nearly 969 new cases were reported in March alone, including two deaths, indicating that transmission remains active despite ongoing response efforts.
Cholera continues to pose a serious threat in Yemen due to the country’s fragile healthcare system, which has been heavily impacted by years of conflict, limited access to clean water, and weakened sanitation infrastructure.
The WHO data further showed that Yemen is among only a few countries in the region reporting cholera-related deaths this year, underlining the severity of the outbreak and the need for sustained international support.
Globally, tens of thousands of cholera cases have been reported in early 2026, with several countries in Africa and Asia facing rising infection rates, placing additional strain on already vulnerable health systems.
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