Fighting in Yemen pushing health system to ‘collapse’, says WHO chief

Fighting in Yemen pushing health system to ‘collapse’, says WHO chief

Escalating tensions in Yemen is “pushing an already fragile health system closer to collapse”, Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Thursday.

“Nearly 20 million people need health assistance, while outbreaks of cholera, measles, polio and dengue, as well as malnutrition, threaten more lives,” Ghebreyesus wrote on X, adding “peace is the best medicine.” 

Escalating violence in #Yemen is causing more casualties and displacement, pushing an already fragile health system closer to collapse.

Nearly 20 million people need health assistance, while outbreaks of cholera, measles, polio and dengue, as well as malnutrition, threaten more… pic.twitter.com/bODTu19jLc

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) September 17, 2026