Cholera Outbreak In Yemen Spreading; AP Examines U.N.’s 2017 Blocked Efforts To Distribute Vaccine Within War-Torn Country

Al Jazeera: Yemen’s cholera outbreak kills over 300 people
“Cholera is making another comeback in Yemen. Suspected cases have doubled during the past month, with warm, wet weather, and a health care system that has been devastated by war, creating perfect conditions for the illness to spread. Al Jazeera’s Katia Lopez-Hodayan reports” (4/6).

Associated Press: As cholera raged in Yemen, warring factions blocked vaccines
“…The AP’s examination of the efforts to fight [cholera] in Yemen drew on confidential documents and interviews with 29 people, including aid officials previously based in the country and officials from health ministries run by both the Houthi rebels and the internationally recognized government in the south. Almost all of these individuals — including six relief and health officials who say the Houthis were responsible for cancellation of the 2017 vaccine shipment — spoke on condition of anonymity because of fear of retaliation…” (Michael, 4/8).

VICE News: Another cholera outbreak is threatening Yemen, and doctors say it could get worse
“Yemen is staring down its third major cholera outbreak in four years, according to the United Nations, which puts the number of suspected cases in March at double that of previous months. The recent spike has invited early comparisons to 2017’s outbreak, when more than 1 million suspected cases of cholera were reported. And the situation could still get worse, doctors and aid officials warned, pointing to a health care system pushed to the brink by years of war and crippling blockades…” (Ibrahim, 4/6).

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