Local Editor

The United Nation’s World Health Organization [WHO] warned on Tuesday that the number of dengue cases recorded in Yemen has experienced a considerable rise since March when Saudi Arabia started its aggression against the country.

Millions of Yemenis have effectively been deprived of water and sanitation facilities as a result of the ongoing Saudi airstrikes against Yemen. The attacks have destroyed the civilian infrastructures across Yemen with hospitals and health centers reportedly targeted in various cities. 

WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said that the Saudi-led air strikes, which were launched in March against Yemen, have crippled even further a weak health infrastructure, and lack of water and sanitation facilities are exacerbating the situation.

"More than 3,000 suspected dengue cases have been reported since March 2015 but the numbers are expected to be considerably higher," he said.

"Some NGOs are reporting more than 6,000 cases, that is double the officially reported cases", he further said. 

Although the mosquito-borne infectious disease is endemic in Yemen, he warned that the figures were far higher this time around "as a result of the current conflict."

"The crisis has severely impacted access to water and sanitation, preventive and clinical services as well as shelter," he said.

Dengue symptoms include severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting and circulatory system failure. The disease can be fatal as well. 

"Access to care has been severely impacted with nearly a 50 percent drop in total consultations in 2015 since the conflict began," Lindmeier said.

More than 2,600 people have been killed in Yemen since March when the Saudi aggression started, according to UN figures, and almost 80 percent of the population -- 20 million people -- are in need of humanitarian aid.