Yemeni health system crumbles, millions risk malnutrition, diseases: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday said health facilities across Yemen has been another victim of ongoing violence in the country, leaving millions of citizens at greater risk of malnutrition and disease.

"With more than 14.8 million people lacking access to basic health care, the current lack of funds means the situation will get much worse," said Nevio Zagaria, WHO Acting Representative in Yemen.

WHO said only 45 percent of health facilities in Yemen is fully functional and accessible, 38 percent are partially functional and 17 percent are non-functional.

At least 274 of those facilities have been damaged or destroyed during the current conflict. Highly specialized medical staff such as intensive care unit doctors, psychiatrists and foreign nurses has left the country.

Almost 4.5 million people in Yemen, including two million children, require services to treat or prevent malnutrition, representing a 150 percent increase since late 2014. Of special concern are almost 462,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition and at risk of life-threatening complications such as respiratory infections or organ failure.

This year, UN agencies and nongovernmental organizations working to support health care in Yemen are appealing for 322 million U.S. dollars, of which WHO is requesting 126 million U.S. dollars.

Last year, WHO received less than half of the 124 million U.S. dollars it required for Yemen. "We urgently need resources to help support the health system as a whole, and are calling on donors to scale-up their support before more innocent lives are lost unnecessarily," said Zagaria. Endit