Sana'a, 23 August 2021 – The World Health Organization (WHO) country office in Yemen denies what has been reported in some local media concerning the 2020 suspension of the “medical airbridge” project for Yemeni patients.

The WHO Yemen country office also wishes to clarify the following points about this project:

This project was implemented by WHO in Yemen in 2020 with funding from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The role of WHO-Yemen was limited to supervision, coordination and arrangement of accommodation and treatment for patients and their companions. 

This project did not fall within the usual activities of WHO as they are implemented in 193 countries around the world. Rather, the project was exceptionally implemented in Yemen in cooperation with OCHA, as agreed with the two ministries of health working in the north and south of Yemen, and with strictly controlled funding from donor countries.

The process of selecting patients was conducted with the Higher Medical Committee of the Ministry of Public Health and Population in Sana’a, independently of any WHO involvement. 

The total cost of this project was approximately US$ 6.5 million, including all costs of transporting patients and their families from different governorates to the capital, in addition to the costs of treatment, examination, accommodation and subsistence in the capital's five-star hotels. The patients and families were originally scheduled to stay in these hotels for only two days; however, these stays were extended to more than six months as the result of obstacles raised by internal and external parties. These obstacles effectively blocked all arrangements and efforts made by WHO in Yemen to expedite the travel of these patients for treatment abroad, as had been originally intended, scheduled, and expected to take place. 

Medical services were arranged and provided to Yemeni patients on their first trip to foreign hospitals. In Amman, Jordan, the costs of these services extended over more than a year of treatments, totalling approximately US$ 4.8 million and depleting all remaining project funds. 

Most of these patients returned to Yemen at the end of their medical treatments; however, some sought political asylum in Jordan rather than returning to Yemen voluntarily. 

Despite continual efforts made by WHO in Yemen to secure funding needed to continue this project, donor countries were unwilling to fund any more flights for patients from all regions of Yemen to receive medical services anywhere outside the country. 

Since the 1940s, the WHO Yemen country office has been providing financed health assistance to the people of Yemen, in agreement and coordination with national health authorities. This assistance has included medical services, equipment, supplies, medicines, vaccination and control campaigns for many diseases during the past 80 years. WHO has not and will not compromise this assistance in any way, at any time, while continuing to assist all Yemeni citizens wherever and however this is possible, now and in the future. 

Having clarified the above points about the 2020 suspension of the “medical airbridge” project for Yemeni patients, the WHO country office calls on all media to be responsible, credible and accurate when reporting the news.

5 August 2021 – Two months ago, Ali Mothana was battling for his life in a COVID-19 isolation unit in Al Sadakah hospital in Aden after being infected with the COVID-19 virus.

“When I was rushed to the hospital, I was suffering from unbearable pain, and my condition was extremely difficult,” recounted Ali, 64. “I thought that it was the end, and that I would not be able to see my grandchildren again.”

COVID-19 has exacted a heavy toll on Yemen, a country that also faces the world’s most complex and dire humanitarian crisis. Like countless other Yemenis, Ali was not believing on how contagious and deadly COVID-19 could be – until it nearly killed him.

“I never ever thought that I would be diagnosed with COVID19. We were in complete denial of the existence of this pandemic, and ignored all precautionary measures.”

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Yemen is 7016 and 1374 deaths. Still, these numbers do not present an accurate picture of the actual number of cases, due primarily to their under-reporting in Yemen. 

Fortunately for Ali, he sought treatment at the WHO-supported intensive care unit in Al Sadakah hospital in Aden. “When I was admitted to the hospital my case was severe and I stayed in the intensive care unit for a long time. I am very fortunate to have received the care I needed. I would have never expected to receive such care – it saved my life”. 

Partnering to save lives 

WHO is partnering with the King Salman Centre for Humanitarian Aid and Relief in the fight against COVID-19 in Yemen. Through this partnership, and in coordination with local authorities, WHO has been enabling rapid detection and response to COVID-19 cases through the Emergency Operations Centres, which represent a platform for an integrated, multisectoral coordination system at central and governorate levels across the country.

“I have finally passed the critical stage and started recovery,” Ali said. “I can never thank enough the white army (health workers) who are putting their lives at risk to save ours. Now I can continue my life with my grandchildren and teach them to be role models – like these health workers who saved my life”.

14 July 2021 – In the midst of a humanitarian crisis and a health system debilitated by years of conflict, incessant epidemics and the recent COVID-19 pandemic aggravating the situation further. WHO and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) are working together to fill critical gaps and strengthen preparedness and response to COVID-19 and other public health concerns. 

Sameh is a father of 3 children – 2 girls and a boy. He works in Al Sadaqqah hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU). Al Sadaqqah is one of the largest hospitals supported by WHO and KSrelief in Aden. When Sameh was infected with COVID-19 around 2 months ago, he stayed home hoping to feel better but his condition worsened and he was rushed to the ICU due to difficulty breathing. 

“My health situation was dire. I was kept in the intensive care unit for a week.”  He says while out of breath. “I’ve been receiving treatment, monitored oxygen supply and care here at the ICU for 3 weeks now. I feel much better and the doctors report that I’m doing well. But I still need to get regulated supply of oxygen as directed by the doctor,” adds Sameh. 

Health care workers in the frontlines of COVID-19 and other diseases are risking their lives daily. And in Yemen, they face compounded challenges due to the damaged infrastructure and socioeconomic difficulties. Yet they continue to work under dire circumstances. 

Sameh is one of 2560 people being treated for COVID-19. “The health staff are treating me so well. I would like to extend my thanks to KSrelief for providing this service and all the services they continue to provide in such a critical time. I am grateful I am now better and that I will soon be able to be discharged,” says Sameh. 

Partnership to mitigate risks and save lives

To reduce occurrence of infection and to minimize morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 WHO and KSrelief are working to advance pandemic preparedness, early detection of COVID-19, as well as through mounting appropriate control and public health containment measures. The large-scale support includes building local capacity at the ICU level, providing oxygen and essential medical and nonmedical supplies. In addition to supporting the national referral laboratory capacity through provision of equipment and essential supplies, as well as training laboratory staff. 

Through this project, 173 health care workers have been trained including 70 laboratory staff in order to build capacity in 14 supported ICUs and 12 supported laboratories. This has made treating 2560 COVID-19 patients possible in WHO and KSrelief-supported facilities between January and June 2021.