Yemen has reported 249,900 cases and 861 deaths this year – accounting for 35% of the global cholera burden and 18% of global reported mortality.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says Yemen is bearing the world’s “worst burden” since an outbreak of cholera in March.

Yemen has reported 249,900 suspected cases as of December 1, the UN agency said in a statement on Monday. cholera cases There have been 861 deaths this year.

The World Health Organization says these figures account for 35% of the global cholera burden and 18% of global deaths.

According to the global health agency, the number of cases and deaths reported in November increased by 37% and 27% respectively compared with the same month in 2023.

The report noted that this year’s increase was “primarily due to updated data from Yemen” and was adjusted for more detailed information across all provinces.

“Outbreaks of waterborne diseases, such as cholera and acute watery diarrhea, place an additional burden on already stretched health systems facing multiple disease outbreaks. Due to severe funding shortfalls, WHO and humanitarian actors are struggling to meet the growing demand for There is pressure on growing demand,” said Arturo Pesigan, WHO Representative and Head of Mission to Yemen.

The World Health Organization says it has been forced to close treatment centers in Yemen due to a funding gap of $20 million.

The U.N. agency has so far closed 47 diarrhea treatment centers in the impoverished country and plans to close another 17 by the end of the year. The agency will also close an additional 39 oral rehydration centers by the end of the year.

“Lack of safe drinking water, poor community hygiene practices and limited access to timely treatment further hamper efforts to prevent and control the disease,” Pessigan said.

addressing Cholera in Yemen The agency stressed the need for “urgent and comprehensive” interventions, including coordination, surveillance, laboratory capacity, case management, community engagement initiatives, water, sanitation, hygiene and oral cholera vaccination. These interventions require timely and adequate funding, the report said.

Yemen has experienced sustained cholera transmission for years, including the largest outbreak in modern history, according to the World Health Organization 2017 to 2020 According to UNICEF, there have been more than 2.5 million cases and 4,000 deaths.

WHO says as many as four million people Cholera affects the world every year.