Suspected cholera cases triple in Yemen as conflict displaces thousands

13 October 2026, Aden/Cairo, Yemen/Egypt – Escalating conflict and mass displacement in Yemen are increasing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks as overcrowding, inadequate access to safe water and disrupted health services expose growing numbers of people to cholera, measles and other preventable diseases. The latest escalation, which began on 6 August, has displaced over 200 000 people across 10 governorates, coinciding with a sharp increase in cholera transmission. Suspected cholera cases have tripled in three weeks, rising from 217 in epidemiological week 36 to 647 in week 39. Yemen has reported 8034 suspected cases and 27 deaths this year, with a quarter of cases occurring in the last four weeks. Five governorates hosting large numbers of displaced people in the south-west – Abyan, Lahj, Al-Dhale'e, Taiz and Aden – account for 92% of reported cases. Cholera has also reached remote displacement camps in Hadramout that are difficult for health teams to access. Children face serious risks from measles, with more than 22 800 suspected cases and 128 deaths reported this year. Vaccination coverage, at an estimated 45% for each of the two recommended doses, is critically low, increasing the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. "Families fleeing conflict are now facing another threat from diseases that can be prevented and treated," said Regional Emergency Director Dr Annette Heinzelmann. "Without urgent funding and unimpeded access to safe water, vaccination and essential health services, outbreaks could spread rapidly among already vulnerable communities." The growing disease burden is putting additional pressure on health facilities that are treating thousands of people injured in the fighting. Approximately 500 health facilities across nine affected governorates lack partner support. WHO is supporting the Ministry of Public Health and Population to strengthen surveillance and outbreak response. Funded interventions include 18 rapid response teams, ten diarrhoea treatment centres, cholera and measles kits and diagnostic tests. WHO has also delivered essential medicines, intravenous fluids, antibiotics and infection prevention supplies to Aden. The health consequences extend beyond Yemen. As of 2 October, more than 3800 people fleeing the violence had crossed to Djibouti, placing additional pressure on already limited health services. In Obock, health authorities reported 44 cases of acute watery diarrhoea and one death as of 8 October. Conditions are particularly concerning in Markazi refugee camp which has only one health centre and limited staff and supplies. WHO urgently needs additional funding to contain outbreaks, sustain essential health services and protect displaced communities. Of the US$ 31 million required for WHO’s 90-day emergency response in Yemen, US$ 3.78 million has been secured. Alongside the US$ 490 000 released from WHO’s Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE), this leaves a funding gap of US$ 26.7 million. In Djibouti, only US$ 150 000 – from WHO’s CFE – of the US$ 700 000 required has been received, leaving a funding gap of US$ 550 000. Additional funding will enable WHO and partners to expand disease surveillance in displacement sites, deploy rapid response teams, strengthen cholera treatment capacity and improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and infection prevention measures in health facilities and cholera treatment sites. In Djibouti, it will strengthen surveillance along displacement routes, expand treatment capacity in Obock and support the operationalization of the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.