The crisis, disasters and catastrophes afflicting Yemen and its people
Abstract
It would be inaccurate to state that Yemen’s difficulties began with the current civil war in September of 2014. While the war brought about its own list of insurmountable tribulations, it also exacerbated already present disasters. This article explores the many dynamics that have led to what has been referred to as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis (1). These include war, internal displacement, economic disaster, healthcare collapse, outbreaks in refugee camps, vaccination concerns, malnutrition, food insecurity, water sparsity, and infectious disease catastrophes. Along with accurate depictions of what is happening on the ground, this article suggests a few potential solutions worth investigating further, ranging from national and international efforts. With an ever-changing climate, this article serves to provide the most up to date impression of the current crisis and disasters.
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5. UN humanitarian office puts Yemen war dead at 233,000, mostly from 'indirect causes' | | UN News [Internet]. United Nations. United Nations; [cited 2021 Jan 16]. Available from: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1078972
6. Alsabri M, Nightingale B, Amin M, Cole J. When COVID-19 hit Yemen: dealing with the pandemic in a country under pressure from the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Glob J Med Public Health. 2020;9(2):1-6.
7. World Report 2019: Rights Trends in Yemen [Internet]. Human Rights Watch. 2019 [cited 2021 Jan 16]. Available from: https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/yemen#
8. Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Yemen, 24 June 2020 - Yemen [Internet]. ReliefWeb. [cited 2021 Jun 19]. Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/under-secretary-general-humanitarian-affairs-and-emergency-relief-coordinator-mark-28
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11. Looi MK. Covid-19: Deaths in Yemen are five times the global average as healthcare collapses. BMJ. 2020;370:m2997.
12. Gharib M. 'I Will Kill You': Health Care Workers Face Rising Attacks Amid COVID-19 Outbreak [Internet]. WAMU. WAMU 88.5 - American University Radio; 2020 [cited 2021 Jan 16]. Available from: https://wamu.org/story/20/06/29/i-will-kill-you-health-care-workers-face-rising-attacks-amid-covid-19/
13. Nott D. The COVID-19 response for vulnerable people in places affected by conflict and humanitarian crises. Lancet. 2020;395(10236):1532-3.
14. Baloch Z, Ma Z, Ji Y, Ghanbari M, Pan Q, Aljabr W. Unique challenges to control the spread of COVID-19 in the Middle East. J Infect Public Health. 2020;13(9):1247-50.
15. Pritchard J, Collier A, Mundenga M, Bartels SA. COVID in crisis: The impact of COVID-19 in complex humanitarian emergencies. J Mil Veteran Fam Health. 2020;6(S2):70-82.
16. COVID-19: Yemen faces 'deadlier consequences' than many [Internet]. Anadolu Ajansı. [cited 2021 Jan 16]. Available from: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/covid-19-yemen-faces-deadlier-consequences-than-many/1850873.
17. Mousavi SM, Anjomshoa M. COVID-19 in Yemen: A Crisis within Crises. Int J Equity Health.2020;19:120.
18. Dureab F, Al-Sakkaf M, Ismail O, Kuunibe N, Krisam J, Müller O, et al. Diphtheria outbreak in Yemen: the impact of conflict on a fragile health system. Confl Health. 2019;13:19.
19. Ng QX, De Deyn ML, Loke W, Yeo WS. Yemen’s cholera epidemic is a one health issue. J Prev Med Public Health. 2020;53(4):289.
20. World Health Organization. Epidemic and pandemic-prone diseases: Cholera update in Yemen, 23 October 2016. [Retrieved February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20181201193005/http:/www.emro.who.int/pandemic-epidemic-diseases/cholera/cholera-update-in-yemen-23-october-2016.html
21. World Health Organization. Cholera situation in Yemen, December 2020. 2020 [Accessed February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/cholera-situation-yemen-december-2020
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24. Federspiel F, Ali M. The cholera outbreak in Yemen: lessons learned and way forward. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):1338.
25. UNICEF. Water, sanitation and hygiene. 2022 [Retrieved February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/yemen/water-sanitation-and-hygiene
26. Joint Cholera Response Plan - Yemen - July 2017 - ReliefWeb. 2017 [Retrieved February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/joint-cholera-response-plan-yemen-july-2017
27. REACH Initiative. Yemen: Research terms of reference: Situation overview of polio outbreak and wash needs Yem2103 (March 2021, version 1). 2021 [Retrieved February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-research-terms-reference-situation-overview-polio-outbreak-and-wash-needs-yem2103
28. World Health Organization. Global Polio Eradication Initiative: annual report 2016: eradication within reach. 2017 [Retrieved February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-POLIO-17.03
29. World Health Organization. Polio. [Retrieved February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://www.emro.who.int/yemen/priority-areas/polio.html
30. Eshaq AM, Fothan AM, Jensen EC, Khan TA, AlAmodi AA. Malnutrition in Yemen: an invisible crisis. Lancet. 2017;389(10064):31-2.
31. El Bcheraoui C, Jumaan AO, Collison ML, Daoud F, Mokdad AH. Health in Yemen: losing ground in war time. Global Health. 2018;14(1):42.
32. Al-Zangabila K, Adhikari SP, Wang Q, Sunil TS, Rozelle S, Zhou H. Alarmingly high malnutrition in childhood and its associated factors: A study among children under 5 in Yemen. Medicine. 2021;100(5):e24419.
33. Alsabri M, Alhadheri A, Alsakkaf LM, Cole J. Conflict and COVID-19 in Yemen: beyond the humanitarian crisis. Global Health. 2021;17:83.
34. Naser WN, Saleem HB. Emergency and disaster management training; knowledge and attitude of Yemeni health professionals- a cross-sectional study. BMC Emerg Med. 2018;18:23.
35. Leiner A, Sammon M, Perry H, Dunavant S. Facing COVID-19 and Refugee Camps on the US Border. J Emerg Med. 2020;59(1):143-5.
2. World Population Review (n.d.). Asia Population 2023. Asia population 2023. [Retrieved February 5, 2023]. Available from: https://worldpopulationreview.com/continents/asia-population
3. Rabi U. Yemen: revolution, civil war and unification. Bloomsbury Publishing; 2014 Dec 17.
4. Yemen: UN Humanitarian Coordinator condemns hospital attack [Internet]. OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs). 2020 [cited 2021 Jan 16]. Available from: https://www.unocha.org/story/yemen-un-humanitarian-coordinator-condemns-hospital-attack
5. UN humanitarian office puts Yemen war dead at 233,000, mostly from 'indirect causes' | | UN News [Internet]. United Nations. United Nations; [cited 2021 Jan 16]. Available from: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1078972
6. Alsabri M, Nightingale B, Amin M, Cole J. When COVID-19 hit Yemen: dealing with the pandemic in a country under pressure from the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Glob J Med Public Health. 2020;9(2):1-6.
7. World Report 2019: Rights Trends in Yemen [Internet]. Human Rights Watch. 2019 [cited 2021 Jan 16]. Available from: https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/yemen#
8. Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Yemen, 24 June 2020 - Yemen [Internet]. ReliefWeb. [cited 2021 Jun 19]. Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/under-secretary-general-humanitarian-affairs-and-emergency-relief-coordinator-mark-28
9. Joplin T. Yemen's Escalating Currency Collapse and the Slow Death of Its People [Internet]. Al Bawaba. [cited 2021 Jun 19]. Available from: https://www.albawaba.com/news/yemen%E2%80%99s-escalating-currency-collapse-and-slow-death-its-people-1194832
10. MedGlobal. A tipping point for Yemen’s health system: the impact of COVID-19 in a fragile state. 22 Jul 2020.
11. Looi MK. Covid-19: Deaths in Yemen are five times the global average as healthcare collapses. BMJ. 2020;370:m2997.
12. Gharib M. 'I Will Kill You': Health Care Workers Face Rising Attacks Amid COVID-19 Outbreak [Internet]. WAMU. WAMU 88.5 - American University Radio; 2020 [cited 2021 Jan 16]. Available from: https://wamu.org/story/20/06/29/i-will-kill-you-health-care-workers-face-rising-attacks-amid-covid-19/
13. Nott D. The COVID-19 response for vulnerable people in places affected by conflict and humanitarian crises. Lancet. 2020;395(10236):1532-3.
14. Baloch Z, Ma Z, Ji Y, Ghanbari M, Pan Q, Aljabr W. Unique challenges to control the spread of COVID-19 in the Middle East. J Infect Public Health. 2020;13(9):1247-50.
15. Pritchard J, Collier A, Mundenga M, Bartels SA. COVID in crisis: The impact of COVID-19 in complex humanitarian emergencies. J Mil Veteran Fam Health. 2020;6(S2):70-82.
16. COVID-19: Yemen faces 'deadlier consequences' than many [Internet]. Anadolu Ajansı. [cited 2021 Jan 16]. Available from: https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/covid-19-yemen-faces-deadlier-consequences-than-many/1850873.
17. Mousavi SM, Anjomshoa M. COVID-19 in Yemen: A Crisis within Crises. Int J Equity Health.2020;19:120.
18. Dureab F, Al-Sakkaf M, Ismail O, Kuunibe N, Krisam J, Müller O, et al. Diphtheria outbreak in Yemen: the impact of conflict on a fragile health system. Confl Health. 2019;13:19.
19. Ng QX, De Deyn ML, Loke W, Yeo WS. Yemen’s cholera epidemic is a one health issue. J Prev Med Public Health. 2020;53(4):289.
20. World Health Organization. Epidemic and pandemic-prone diseases: Cholera update in Yemen, 23 October 2016. [Retrieved February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20181201193005/http:/www.emro.who.int/pandemic-epidemic-diseases/cholera/cholera-update-in-yemen-23-october-2016.html
21. World Health Organization. Cholera situation in Yemen, December 2020. 2020 [Accessed February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/cholera-situation-yemen-december-2020
22. Potter C. Largest cholera outbreak on record continues. Outbreak Observatory. 2020 [Retrieved February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://www.outbreakobservatory.org/outbreakthursday-1/1/16/2020/large-cholera-outbreak-on-record-continues-in-yemen
23. UNICEF. UNICEF Yemen Humanitarian Situation Report - reporting period 1 – 28 February 2021 [EN/AR]. 2021 [Retrieved February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/unicef-yemen-humanitarian-situation-report-reporting-period-1-28-february-2021-enar
24. Federspiel F, Ali M. The cholera outbreak in Yemen: lessons learned and way forward. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):1338.
25. UNICEF. Water, sanitation and hygiene. 2022 [Retrieved February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://www.unicef.org/yemen/water-sanitation-and-hygiene
26. Joint Cholera Response Plan - Yemen - July 2017 - ReliefWeb. 2017 [Retrieved February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/joint-cholera-response-plan-yemen-july-2017
27. REACH Initiative. Yemen: Research terms of reference: Situation overview of polio outbreak and wash needs Yem2103 (March 2021, version 1). 2021 [Retrieved February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-research-terms-reference-situation-overview-polio-outbreak-and-wash-needs-yem2103
28. World Health Organization. Global Polio Eradication Initiative: annual report 2016: eradication within reach. 2017 [Retrieved February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-POLIO-17.03
29. World Health Organization. Polio. [Retrieved February 8, 2023]. Available from: https://www.emro.who.int/yemen/priority-areas/polio.html
30. Eshaq AM, Fothan AM, Jensen EC, Khan TA, AlAmodi AA. Malnutrition in Yemen: an invisible crisis. Lancet. 2017;389(10064):31-2.
31. El Bcheraoui C, Jumaan AO, Collison ML, Daoud F, Mokdad AH. Health in Yemen: losing ground in war time. Global Health. 2018;14(1):42.
32. Al-Zangabila K, Adhikari SP, Wang Q, Sunil TS, Rozelle S, Zhou H. Alarmingly high malnutrition in childhood and its associated factors: A study among children under 5 in Yemen. Medicine. 2021;100(5):e24419.
33. Alsabri M, Alhadheri A, Alsakkaf LM, Cole J. Conflict and COVID-19 in Yemen: beyond the humanitarian crisis. Global Health. 2021;17:83.
34. Naser WN, Saleem HB. Emergency and disaster management training; knowledge and attitude of Yemeni health professionals- a cross-sectional study. BMC Emerg Med. 2018;18:23.
35. Leiner A, Sammon M, Perry H, Dunavant S. Facing COVID-19 and Refugee Camps on the US Border. J Emerg Med. 2020;59(1):143-5.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 7 No 2 (2023): Spring (April) | |
| Section | Review article | |
| DOI | 10.18502/fem.v7i2.12772 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Communicable Diseases Crisis Disaster Food Insecurity Malnutrition War Yemen | ||
| Rights and permissions | |
|
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
How to Cite
1.
Alhadheri A, Alam S, Ahmed S, Alsabri M. The crisis, disasters and catastrophes afflicting Yemen and its people. Front Emerg Med. 2023;7(2):e19.
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