WHO Likely To Reverse Decision To Send Cholera Vaccines To Yemen Due To Security, Logistical Challenges; Outbreak Could Accelerate Famine As Agencies Shift Resources

Associated Press: U.N.: Yemen unlikely to get cholera vaccine as first planned
“U.N. officials said Tuesday that plans to ship as many as one million doses of cholera vaccine to Yemen are likely to be shelved over security, access, and logistical challenges, even as the deadly caseload continues to balloon in parts of the war-torn country…” (Keaten, 7/12).

New York Times: U.N. Suspending Plan for Cholera Vaccination in Yemen
“…Christian Lindmeier, a spokesman for the World Health Organization, told reporters the vaccine doses originally designated for shipment to Yemen would probably be sent to other countries threatened by cholera, where they could be used more effectively. The surprise disclosure, made at a regular news briefing at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, came as the number of Yemenis afflicted with cholera reached 313,000 and the death toll exceeded 1,700…” (Cumming-Bruce/Gladstone, 7/11).

Reuters: Cholera may accelerate famine in Yemen as resources shift: U.N.
“Yemen’s growing cholera epidemic may accelerate looming famine, as limited resources are shifted away from malnutrition and other programs to try to contain the disease, the top U.N. aid official in the country said on Tuesday…” (Nebehay, 7/11).

U.N. News Centre: Aid agencies in Yemen forced to shift resources from fighting hunger to cholera — U.N.
“Unless the international community contributes $200 million to address the cholera outbreak in Yemen, the United Nations humanitarian arm will be forced to ‘reprogram’ more resources tagged for malnutrition in the country already facing famine, a senior official [Tuesday] said…” (7/11).

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