Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, 30 August 2018 – Yemen
(excerpt)
Yemen
And our humanitarian colleagues tell us that the number of reported suspected cholera cases in Yemen has been increasing over the last two months. Since April 2017, more than 1.1 million suspected cholera cases and 2,310 associated deaths have been reported across Yemen. The outbreak is the most serious on record. Between the beginning of the year and mid-August 2018, 120,000 suspected cases have been reported. Although this figure is lower than during the same period last year, the increasing rate of infections over recent weeks is raising concerns of a possible third wave of the epidemic, with the current rains increasing the risk of spread.
Humanitarian partners are working to avoid a large‑scale resurgence. This [month], our partners vaccinated nearly 400,000 people against cholera in high‑risk [districts] of Hodeidah and Ibb. This followed an earlier campaign in Aden in May, were nearly 275,000 people were vaccinated against cholera. Our partners also continue to support critical water, sanitation, hygiene and health facilities. Supplies to treat over half a million cases have been pre‑positioned in warehouses and health offices in at‑risk districts.