COVID-19 in Yemen: The present situation and the future plan to overcome the crisis

Abstract

Since the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020, all countries worldwide have taken precautions to combat this pandemic, except for Yemen. The civil war and resulting humanitarian crises have diverted the attention of the Yemeni people and authorities away from COVID-19, potentially leading to the escalation of the pandemic. Following the initial denial, the internationally recognized government and the de facto authority of the Houthis acknowledged the first COVID-19 cases on March 11, 2020 and May 13, 2020, respectively. With only half of the Yemeni hospitals and medical facilities being fully operational, the authorities and humanitarian groups are working together to end the crisis. Due to paucity of information on the real number of cases in the country attributed to various reasons, no one can predict the future in this country, which will be most likely worse unless the civil war stops, and the humanitarian groups with the authorities need to work hard to strengthen the health system to prepare it for the current and all upcoming health crisis and pandemics.