Cholera outbreak worsens in Yemen amid funding crisis
Epidemic spreads as conflict devastates infrastructure, donor shortfalls cripple health response, and millions face water contamination risks
SANAA, Yemen (MNTV) — Yemen is facing a worsening cholera outbreak, with hundreds of thousands of suspected cases reported as the ongoing conflict and severe funding shortfalls cripple the country’s capacity to contain the disease, according to the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor.
Between March 2024 and August 2025, Yemen recorded around 332,000 suspected cholera cases and over 1,070 related deaths, ranking among the highest globally.
Health experts warn that the epidemic could intensify during the rainy season, with poor sanitation and contaminated water accelerating transmission.
The humanitarian situation has been compounded by an over 80 percent funding gap in the Yemen Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP).
Of the $2.48 billion required, only $474 million had been disbursed by September 2025, forcing aid agencies to suspend critical programs for cholera prevention, treatment, and public health awareness.
The Euro-Med Monitor said the de facto authorities and all parties to the conflict bear legal and moral responsibility for the outbreak, as the collapse of water and sanitation systems, waste mismanagement, and restrictions on medical access have directly worsened conditions.
International law obliges authorities to maintain and protect essential public health services and facilitate humanitarian operations.
Experts note that official infection and death figures likely understate the true scope of the crisis, as weak surveillance systems, limited healthcare access, and reluctance to report cases hinder accurate assessment.
Cholera has now become endemic in Yemen, where high infection rates persist against the backdrop of collapsing infrastructure and dwindling aid.
Years of war have devastated Yemen’s health system and destroyed large portions of water and sewage networks. Airstrikes, shelling, and administrative divisions have hampered repair work and disrupted the efforts of vaccination and sanitation teams. The country’s conflict, now entering its tenth year, continues to fuel one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Children and women remain among the most affected, with tens of thousands of children suffering from acute diarrhea and malnutrition linked to cholera each year.
Overcrowded displacement camps, poor hygiene, and scarce clean water have created ideal conditions for the disease to spread rapidly among vulnerable populations.
Tayseer al-Samei, media official at Yemen’s Ministry of Health, said the sharp decline in international assistance has weakened rapid response teams and public awareness campaigns, contributing to the epidemic’s resurgence.
“The health system is under extreme pressure, and the lack of foreign aid has further crippled containment efforts,” he said.
Dr. Yassin Abdul Malik from Taiz Governorate reported widespread contamination in local water wells and household tanks. “We found cholera bacteria in water sources and vegetables sold in markets. The damaged sewage system has contaminated the food supply,” he told Euro-Med Monitor.
According to the United Nations, more than 19 million people in Yemen need healthcare, while 17 million lack adequate access to safe water. Aid agencies warn that continued funding cuts risk halting vital operations and accelerating the collapse of essential water and sanitation programs.
Euro-Med Monitor urged all warring parties to facilitate the work of health organizations, end the targeting of water infrastructure, and ensure unrestricted access to medical supplies and fuel. It also called on donor nations to honor financial pledges made at humanitarian conferences to sustain life-saving programs and prevent further deterioration.
The organization emphasized that addressing Yemen’s cholera crisis requires tackling its root causes through a lasting peace settlement, reconstruction of health and sanitation systems, and sustained international cooperation.
Without these measures, it warned, millions will remain at risk of preventable disease and humanitarian catastrophe.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
