Even before the escalation of conflict over a decade ago, only about half of Yemenʼs population had access to health care services, and many health facilities lacked essential equipment and supplies. 

In that time, challenges have grown. Vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, have risen sharply, mainly because of gaps in routine vaccination and limited access to basic health care, while malnutrition and food insecurity have increased steadily each year. Meanwhile, U.S. aid cuts have gutted the countryʼs primary source of aid. “The detrimental impact [of the cuts] cannot be overstated,” Marisa Lister, a Médecins Sans Frontières medical coordinator based in Sanaa, told GHN.