In an interview with RT on July 9, International Committee of the Red Cross spokesman for Yemen Basheer Omar said that the humanitarian situation in Yemen is one of “unimaginable horror,” with two-thirds of the population deprived of basic healthcare.
The eight years of armed conflict, economic hardship, deteriorating health services infrastructure and decreased access to healthcare, particularly for women and girls, has resulted in the devastation of the population. According to UNICEF, less than 50% of births are attended by skilled health professionals; one mother and six newborns die reportedly every two hours in Yemen because of complications during pregnancy and for causes that are almost entirely preventable, mainly due to limited or no access to health services.
The UNICEF report continued, “Among the estimated 4.2 million people displaced in Yemen since the beginning of the conflict, 73% are women and children…. More than 20.1 million people out of a total population of 30.5 million currently lack access to basic health care. Only 51% of health facilities still function across the country. Violence further complicates the ability of patients to reach lifesaving healthcare.”
