Aden (South24)

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced that Yemen urgently requires an additional $20 million over the next six months to intensify efforts to combat the ongoing cholera and acute watery diarrhea outbreaks across the country.

According to a recent OCHA report, the requested funding aims to scale up activities to control the spread of cholera, which has severely impacted large regions of Yemen and created a “concerning” health situation in the country.

The report stated that the number of suspected cholera cases has exceeded 186,000 since the beginning of 2024, with 680 deaths recorded so far. It highlighted that children under the age of five and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to infection and death.

OCHA indicated that the additional funds will be used to expand the number of Diarrhea Treatment Centers (DTCs) and Oral Rehydration Corners (ORCs) and to bolster the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) supply chain.

The funding will also support the Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) initiatives, aimed at educating local communities about the risks and preventative measures for infectious diseases.

The report noted that the current cholera outbreak is occurring amid a fragile health system and severe shortages of basic medical resources, adding to the pressure on humanitarian organizations operating in Yemen.