Cholera outbreak in Yemen’s Ibb province sparks fears of humanitarian crisis

Cholera outbreak in Yemen’s Ibb province sparks fears of humanitarian crisis

A serious cholera outbreak is spreading rapidly in Ibb province, central Yemen, amid a sharp deterioration in healthcare services. Medical sources report that hospitals and clinics are receiving dozens of confirmed or suspected cases daily, with children and the elderly most affected due to malnutrition and weakened immunity.

Since early May, infection rates have risen significantly, compounded by severe shortages of IV fluids, antibiotics, and other essential medical supplies. The health sector, already strained by years of conflict, is struggling to respond to the escalating crisis.

Local reports indicate that Houthi authorities have instructed medical staff not to speak to media or international organizations about the outbreak, limiting transparency and hampering response efforts.

Residents are calling for urgent international intervention to supply vital medicines, launch awareness campaigns, and prevent the situation from escalating into a full-scale humanitarian disaster. The outbreak highlights the fragile state of Yemen’s healthcare infrastructure under ongoing conflict.