Critical shortages threaten lifesaving care at 42 health facilities in Yemen’s Taiz

Attachments • Download Report (PDF | 253.71 KB | Arabic version) 22 October 2026, Aden/Cairo – Hospitals in Yemen’s Taiz governorate are struggling to maintain lifesaving services amid critical shortages of fuel, oxygen, medicines and medical supplies. With hospital services severely disrupted and stocks running dangerously low, urgent action is needed to sustain lifesaving care for thousands of patients. In Taiz city alone, 42 health facilities are reporting acute shortages. More than 1110 people with kidney failure require dialysis sessions daily, 192 patients are receiving intensive care, and 154 newborns are in incubators. Without urgent replenishment emergency surgery, dialysis, intensive care and maternal and neonatal services face further disruption. Hospitals and ambulances require more than 156 000 litres of fuel each month to maintain operations. Fuel shortages also threaten oxygen production, emergency transport and vaccine cold-chain systems. The Ministry of Public Health and Population reports that the situation is critical. Frequent communication network outages have hampered efforts to obtain updated information, and WHO is working with health authorities to verify remaining fuel stocks and assess the extent of disruption to hospital services. The crisis is unfolding in tandem with growing displacement. More than 256 000 people were displaced across Yemen between 1 August and 19 October, with Taiz a major origin and destination site. Fuel shortages are disrupting water pumping and sanitation services, increasing the risk of cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases among displaced families. Although suspected cholera cases have declined in recent weeks, reduced access to health facilities may be affecting reporting in Taiz. Humanitarian partners are working to secure alternative routes and access arrangements to enable the delivery of medical supplies and the provision of essential health services in Taiz. Despite severe access restrictions, a national Health Cluster partner has delivered essential emergency medicines to Al-Thawra Hospital via an alternative route. WHO is working with health authorities and partners to expand emergency health services, including support for 10 diarrhoea treatment centres across five affected governorates, including Taiz, and additional mobile medical teams and fixed health points within the governorate to improve access to care for displaced communities. Safe and sustained humanitarian access is urgently needed to enable regular deliveries and scale up the response. Essential medicines, intravenous fluids, medical supplies and water, sanitation and hygiene commodities have been pre-positioned by WHO in Aden for delivery to conflict-affected areas. Safe and sustained humanitarian access is urgently needed to enable regular deliveries and scale up lifesaving assistance. WHO calls for the immediate facilitation of safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access to Taiz, through all available routes, and urgent funding to replenish critical supplies and sustain essential health services. Without urgent action, critical shortages risk further disruption to essential health services, including emergency surgery, intensive care, dialysis and maternal and neonatal care. The Arabic version is posted here: https://www.emro.who.int/ar/media/news/fuel-and-medical-supply-shortages-threaten-lifesaving-health-services-in-yemens-taiz-as-access-remains-severely-restricted.html