Local Editor
The director-general of the World Health Organization told the high-level pledging event for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen that, “large swaths of the [Yemeni] population are on the brink of famine.”
“Between famine and death from starvation lies disease. Infections that a well-nourished body wards off become deadly in severely malnourished people, especially children and pregnant women,” Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun said.
The WHO official added that since the start of the Saudi-led bombardment in March 2015, “325 attacks have been verified on health facilities, schools, markets, roads, and other infrastructure, adding to the challenges and the population’s many causes of misery.”
“Since March 2015…the flow of essential medicines into the country has dried up by nearly 70%. The disruption of essential health services has been severe. WHO estimates than fewer than 45% of health facilities are fully functioning. Nearly 300 have been damaged or destroyed. Most health workers who have fiercely stayed at their posts have not been paid regular salaries since August 2016,” Fu-chun said.
Source: Relief Web, Edited by Website Team
