ALEXANDRIA, VA – Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) has released the following statement:
Yemen is in the grip of a severe cholera outbreak with thousands of lives at imminent risk, Islamic Relief says.
At least 114 people have died so far, and more than 20,000 people have been affected within the last few weeks as the disease has spread rapidly, especially in the north of the country.
Islamic Relief is providing essential medical treatment, cholera antibiotics, intravenous fluids, hygiene kits and improved sanitation to help tackle the outbreak. But an immediate scale-up of the response is critical, with more funding urgently needed to prevent the further spread of the deadly disease.
Siddiq Khan, Islamic Relief’s Country Director in Yemen, says: “Thousands of lives hang in the balance. The cholera outbreak is spreading rapidly and quick action can mean the difference between life and death. 9 years of war and economic crisis have severely weakened Yemen’s health system and other public services. Medical facilities face critical shortages of essential supplies, struggling to cope with the outbreak in cholera cases.”
Cholera spreads quickly in areas lacking clean water and proper sanitation, and it can turn fatal if not treated promptly. Strengthening health, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene services is critical to addressing the root causes of this situation.
International funding has dried up as Yemen’s crisis has faded from global attention after 9 years of war, forcing some critical aid to shut down. The UN-led Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan for 2024 currently has just 15% of the funding it needs. Islamic Relief health and nutrition teams in Yemen have seen a sharp increase in child malnutrition and disease since the UN World Food Programme had to suspend food distributions to millions of people at the end of 2023.
Supported by the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF), Islamic Relief has so far delivered 15,000 antibiotics and IV solutions to rehydrate those affected. We have also worked to prevent future cholera outbreaks by improving water systems, providing water filters, building family restrooms, and promoting community health education. In the past year alone, we have provided essential medical care and treatment to over 151,000 people.
With at least 18.2 million Yemenis in need of humanitarian assistance and 17.8 million people in need of health or medical assistance, immediate and sustained action is crucial to save lives and prevent the further spread of the cholera outbreak in the country.
MEDIA CONTACT
Syed M. Hassan
mhassan@irusa.org or
(571) 421-7032 (CELL)
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Islamic Relief USA, based in Alexandria, Va., is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization. Its mission is to provide relief and development in a dignified manner regardless of gender, race, or religion, and works to empower individuals in their communities and give them a voice in the world. Its programs benefit millions of people each year in more than 40 countries around the world, including in the United States.
Islamic Relief USA meets all of the Standards for Charity Accountability of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a national charity monitoring group affiliated with the Better Business Bureau system. Islamic Relief USA is on the U.S. government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity list, and it is also a signatory to the code of conduct of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.