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Every drop counts: how clean water is restoring hope to Yemen’s hospitals
25 June 2025, Aden, Yemen – Before the water trucks started arriving, each morning at the hospital began with uncertainty.
“We used to check the water tanks before we checked on patients,” says Amal, a nurse at a Khalifa Hospital in Yemen. “If there was no water, we had to rethink everything –sterilization, wound care, even washing hands.”
Water, a simple and essential resource, had become increasingly scarce in Yemen’s overburdened health facilities. Without it, health care workers like Amal had to make difficult decisions every day.
“You can’t clean an operating room or safely deliver a baby without water,” she says. “But often, no water was a daily reality.”
Things began to shift when WHO launched to restore access to safe water in hospitals through “Improved WASH Services in Hospitals with Sustainable Water Supply” project, supported by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief),to serve the most vulnerable populations in Yemen. With this initiative, 60 health care facilities now receive regular trucks of clean water, allowing to better serve 580,000 people, many of them displaced or living in high-risk areas.
A matter of survival
Before the intervention, water shortages led to critical procedures being postponed and the closure of delivery rooms. Sanitation and basic infection prevention protocols were compromised.
“We sometimes had to send patients elsewhere, not because we lacked doctors, but because we had no water,” says Dr. Mohammed, Head of Nursing Department at Taiz Psychiatric Hospital,. “It was painful for everyone involved.”
Today, with regular water deliveries and a water quality control system in place, project hospitals can function more reliably. Disinfection routines are followed, surgical wards are active and basic hygiene is no longer a daily struggle.
“We’ve regained stability. Staff are less stressed and patients are safer,” says Dr.Mohammed.
Delivering more than a water
Behind the scenes are people like Hussein, a water trucking supervisor, who oversees distribution to more than 50 hospitals in 5 governorates.
“Every tank we deliver is tested and treated before use,” he explains. “And when a hospital calls to say they’ve received the delivery, we know we’ve helped someone get care they can trust.”
There have been challenges along the way, rough roads, occasional contamination and the pressure to meet growing needs. But the impact, Hussein adds, makes it worth it.
“Clean water doesn’t just improve services, it protects lives.”
New standards of care
Amal senses the change in every corner of Khalifa Hospital.
“Now we can focus on patient care, not just on coping. We’re able to follow proper hygiene steps and respond quickly in emergencies. That makes a real difference, especially in maternity and surgery.”
Infections are down, Staff morale is up, and for the first time in years, patients-and their relatives are expressing satisfaction with the cleanliness and safety of facilities.
“Even visitors notice,” says Amal. “People are no longer afraid to come here for service.”
Thankful for every drop
“Thank you for seeing this need, for responding before things got worse,” says Amal.
“This wasn’t just about infrastructure,” adds Mohammed. “It was about restoring dignity and trust to health care in Yemen.”
With KSrelief’s fund, safe water has returned to places where hope was fading, and with it, the ability of health care workers to do what they are trained to do. Save lives, safely and with dignity.
A health worker’s fight against cholera in Yemen
27 May 2025, Aden, Yemen – For years, Yemen has been fighting outbreaks of cholera and other epidemic prone diseases. In the bustling streets of Aden, where life continues against what often seem insurmountable odds, Al-Mualla Diarrhoea Treatment Centre (DTC) provides a beacon of hope for families battling the devastating impacts of cholera.
Behind every life saved is a story of determination, compassion and unrelenting dedication – stories like that of Dr Khalid Mohammed Jaber, an internal medicine specialist working at Al-Mualla, on the forefront of the battle against cholera.
Dr Khalid’s efforts, supported by the US$ 3 million King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief)-funded cholera response project, have helped transform Al-Mualla facility into a lifeline for those most in need. From providing free of charge care to spreading awareness about prevention, his work shows what targeted funding can achieve.
“Every patient feels like one of my own children”
For Dr Khalid, treating cholera patients is more than a job – it is a vocation rooted in empathy.
“When a patient recovers, it feels as if one of my own children has been healed,” he said. “The joy is immeasurable. It reassures me that my efforts are making a difference.”
By ensuring the availability of essential treatments, diagnostic tools and follow-up care, the KSrelief project has significantly enhanced the Centre's capacity to care for cholera patients. According to Dr Khalid, the support has made a substantial difference. It allows patients to access previously inaccessible care for free, alleviating the financial burden on families and allowing the Centre to deliver effective treatments on time.
Despite these achievements, challenges remain. Dr Khalid emphasized the importance of public awareness in preventing cholera.
“Health education is crucial,” he said. “I use every opportunity – at the clinic, in mosques, during conversations – to inform people about the importance of handwashing, food safety and environmental hygiene.”
There are varying levels of understanding within the community. Dr Khalid observed that while some individuals recognize the importance of these practices, others struggle to adapt and change their habits. Acknowledging that progress takes time, he is optimistic that meaningful change can be achieved.
Sustaining the fight against cholera
In Yemen, where many families struggle to afford even a basic meal, the KSrelief-funded cholera response project has become a lifeline for the country’s most vulnerable, offering hope and tangible support in the fight against cholera.
By reducing the financial burden of treatment, the project has made health care more accessible. By providing essential resources and supplies, it helps ensure that health care facilities are equipped to respond to outbreaks. Through comprehensive training and capacity-building programmes, it empowers health workers to deliver effective care and protect their communities from this devastating disease.
By prioritizing the accurate dissemination of information, the project effectively addresses misinformation and helps ensure accurate messages reach communities, fostering better awareness and understanding.
Through a multifaceted approach, the project not only addresses immediate health crises, it is helping to lay the foundations for long-term health resilience in Yemen. This collaborative effort highlights how partnerships can create meaningful change, bringing lifesaving support to those who need it most.
“The funding allows us to work with dedication and honesty, lifting the burden from our patients’ shoulders. But the fight isn’t over – we must continue to raise awareness and provide care until cholera is no longer a threat,” said Dr Khalid.
At Al-Mualla DTC in Aden, every patient treated represents a life saved—a life that could have been lost without the critical, life-saving intervention provided through this important intervention.
Since its launch, this project has given a second chance to 250 individuals, including 178 patients suffering from moderate to severe dehydration who were admitted for urgent treatment between November 1 and December 18, 2024. These patients were on the brink of losing their lives to cholera, a ruthless disease that can claim lives within hours due to rapid fluid and electrolyte loss.
Their survival is a powerful testament to this intervention, transforming what could have been tragedies into stories of hope and recovery. Each case is not just a number, but a life saved—a mother, father, child, or sibling. With the continuation such important support, countless more lives can be spared, preserving families, futures, and communities.
KSrelief support to this centre along with four additional centres, essential medicines and medical supplies, training and supervision of health workers and incentives for staff working 24/7. This vital support ensures that those affected by cholera can access timely care, preventing further suffering and saving lives across Yemen.
KSrelief funding saves young lives in Yemen
18 March 2025, Aden, Yemen – As of 1 December, Yemen had reported over 249 900 suspected cases of cholera, with 861 associated deaths, since the start of 2024, accounting for 35% of the global cholera burden and 18% of reported mortality.
Cholera remains a major health threat in Yemen, economic hardship and crumbling infrastructure. Caused by contaminated water and poor sanitation, the disease continues to claim lives, particularly among children.
In May 2024, with US$ 3 million in funding from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), lifesaving interventions were launched to reduce illness and prevent further spread.
Health facilities like Al-Mualla Diarrhoea Treatment Centre (DTC) in Aden Governorate have become critical actors in the battle against cholera, offering free-of-charge, timely care to vulnerable communities.
For Rami Ibrahim Omar Hassan, a 28-year-old father from Aden, support came just in time. Life for his family of 7 was already a daily struggle when his two young daughters, aged 10 and 6, suddenly fell ill with severe diarrhoea and vomiting. The situation escalated quickly, with both girls experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea up to 3 times a day.
“I was very afraid for my daughters,” Rami says. “The lives of our children are precious, and I couldn’t bear to think of losing them.”
With only 3000 Yemeni Riyals in his pocket Rami acted quickly, hiring a private car to Al-Mualla Centre after it was recommended by neighbours.
The girls received immediate treatment at the centre, including intravenous fluids and essential medicines made possible through KSrelief funding. While treatment outside the centre remains costly, Al-Mualla provides free-of-charge care.
The medical staff treated the girls and gave the family guidance to prevent future infections. “They explained the importance of hygiene, keeping the house clean, maintaining personal hygiene and acting quickly at the first sign of illness to avoid complications and prevent the sickness spreading,” explains Rami.
For health staff, seeing patients recover is deeply rewarding. Ansam Farah Ramadan, Head of the Nursing Department at the Centre, describes these moments: “Watching patients recover, especially those who arrive in such a critical state, is indescribable. It is like seeing a loved one brought back to life.”
Rami’s daughters are now on the path to recovery. Their story serves as a powerful reminder of how timely care can mean the difference between life and loss.
Since the launch of the KSrelief-funded project, 250 beneficiaries have received treatment, of whom 178 (71%), experiencing moderate to severe dehydration, were admitted for lifesaving care at Al-Mualla Centre between 1 November and 18 December 2024.
KSrelief support to DTCs includes essential medicines and medical supplies, training and supervision of health workers, and incentives for staff working 24/7. This vital support ensures that those affected by cholera can access timely care, preventing further suffering and saving lives.
Yemen’s path to zero malaria
Aden, Yemen, 25 April 2025 - On World Malaria Day 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for urgent and united action to control malaria in Yemen. This year’s global theme, “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite”, underscores the need for collective responsibility, innovation and investment to end this preventable and treatable disease.
Malaria continues to place a heavy burden on vulnerable communities across Yemen, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. A weakened health system, the result of years of conflict, and climate change, compound the challenges of fighting against malaria. WHO, together with the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP) and its partners, is stepping up efforts to deliver tailored, lifesaving interventions and ensure access to timely diagnosis and effective treatment.
“Despite the immense challenges, Yemen has an opportunity to make real progress against malaria,” said Acting WHO Representative in Yemen Dr Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo. “We are working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Public Health and Population and health partners to scale up prevention, strengthen surveillance and reach those most in need with essential services.”
WHO and MoPHP are implementing context-specific approaches guided by realities on the ground. They include enhancing malaria surveillance systems, addressing malaria drug and insecticide resistance, promoting community-based vector control and expanding access to diagnostics and treatment services, particularly in remote and underserved districts.
Key figures from Yemen’s malaria programme
In 2024, Yemen recorded 210,022 confirmed malaria cases, with 18 related deaths. Over 2 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) were distributed nationwide, and 1,735,000 suspected cases tested at sentinel and peripheral health facilities. More than 2,294 community health workers have been trained to support local malaria surveillance and response. These efforts, though significant, need to be urgently scaled up to meet elimination targets.
Eliminating malaria in Yemen will require sustained political commitment, stronger national ownership and increased domestic and international investments. WHO is advocating for greater resource mobilization and collaboration with donors, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society and the private sector to bridge critical funding gaps and deliver on the promise of a malaria-free future.
“Malaria elimination in Yemen is an ambitious yet achievable target,” added Dr Coulibaly-Zerbo. “It will take commitment, strategic investment and strong partnerships. WHO remains fully committed to supporting the government and communities across Yemen in this vital fight. A Yemen free from malaria is a step towards health security, resilience and sustainable development.”
As the world marks World Malaria Day, WHO Yemen urges all stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment and scale up support to end malaria in Yemen once and for all.
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Since 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been the United Nations agency dedicated to advancing health for all, so that everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage, direct and coordinate the world’s responses to health emergencies and connect nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.
