The World Health Organization (WHO) is scaling up its health response in Yemen as escalating conflict drives rising casualties and displacement and places further pressure on an already fragile health system.

As of 18 September, 674 deaths and 2998 injuries had been reported, with 680 casualties recorded in just six days from 13 to 18 September. The share of deaths among casualties rose from 17% to 24%, and on 15 September, deaths exceeded injuries. This may indicate limited access to timely trauma and surgical care. By 15 September, nearly 130 000 people had been displaced across eight governorates. Around 3500 people have crossed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Djibouti, arriving mainly through Obock; more than half are women and children.

Hospitals in the most affected areas are receiving growing numbers of casualties, while facing shortages of essential medicines, surgical supplies, blood and critical care capacity. Damage to health facilities and key transport routes is further disrupting ambulance referrals and the movement of medical supplies.

To date, WHO has delivered three rounds of emergency medical supplies to frontline hospitals. An initial shipment to Marib General Hospital Authority on 7 August contained medicines and supplies, including surgical supplies, commodities and antibiotics, estimated to cover 5000–8000 patients. A second shipment on 31 August delivered trauma and emergency supplies to hospitals in Taiz, Hadramout Al-Wadi and Al-Dhale'e, sufficient for an estimated 1500 trauma cases. Further deliveries reached hospitals in Aden on 13 September and Marib on 16 and 17 September.