Yemen’s health system could collapse in some areas, minister warns | Houthis News
Yemen’s Health System Faces Critical Challenges Amid Ongoing Conflict
Published on September 27, 2026
Yemen’s Minister of Public Health and Population, Qasim Buhaibeh, warned in an interview with Al Jazeera that the country’s healthcare system could collapse if funding continues to decline.
Buhaibeh indicated that some regions in Yemen might experience a complete loss of health services due to strained resources caused by the ongoing war. He emphasized that the health sector is ill-equipped to handle further waves of displacement, as the lack of funding has led to the closure of medical facilities and shortages of medications, supplies, and fuel.
The minister highlighted that essential services—including emergency care, maternal and child health, vaccinations, nutritional support, dialysis, and cancer treatment—are particularly at risk as funding dwindles. According to health data updated through June 2026, approximately 19.3 million people in Yemen are in need of health assistance, yet funding for the relief effort has reached only 17% of what is necessary.
Buhaibeh also noted that less than 50% of health facilities are currently operating at full capacity, a significant decline from a reported 60% by the World Health Organization.
Recent figures indicated that from June to September 22, approximately 134,550 people have been displaced by the ongoing conflict, primarily in the governorates of Taiz, Lahij, and Aden. This influx has put additional pressure on already struggling health facilities.
Furthermore, the reporting of health data from areas controlled by the Houthi movement has been suspended for nearly a year, complicating efforts to assess the national epidemiological situation. Buhaibeh expressed concern that increasing displacement, malnutrition, and insufficient vaccination coverage coincide with outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, measles, and polio.
In 2025, Yemen recorded over 27,000 confirmed cases of measles, and nearly half of children under age five are estimated to suffer from chronic malnutrition.
The International Organization for Migration reported that nearly 130,000 individuals, equivalent to 30,000 households, have been displaced across seven governorates since hostilities intensified between Houthi forces and the internationally recognized Yemeni government coalition in early September.
