Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is witnessing a sharp rise in acute watery diarrhoea cases in Hodeidah and Hajjah governorates in Yemen. In just one week from 7 September, the cases have increased by 65 per cent, amid worsening humanitarian conditions in the country. MSF calls on humanitarian organisations to urgently step in and direct funding to strengthen the response to this life-threatening disease.

Since the beginning of September compared to last month, the number of cases has doubled to above 400 patients at Abs General hospital in Hajjah governorate. Al-Qanawis hospital, Hodeidah, reported a weekly average of more than 21 patients, which is a 50 per cent increase in cases; many of them are children under five. 

To cope with the surge, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, opened a 50-bed diarrhoea treatment centre in Abs General hospital. This was later expanded to 75 beds and a 20-bed capacity centre was also opened in Al-Qanawis to support the increase of cases. The centres have treated a total of 4,493 patients of acute watery diarrhoea in both the governorates since the start of response in July.