Norway will pay millions to fight cholera outbreaks in Yemen
More than 20,000 people are probably affected by cholera in Yemen. Norway increases humanitarian support for the war-ridden country by 10 million NOK.
– The cholera outbreak in Yemen is on top of an armed conflict and hunger crisis affecting large sections of the population.
Norway therefore raises humanitarian aid to Yemen by NOK 10 million and will continuously assess developments in the future, says Minister of Foreign Affairs, Børge Brende, in a press release.
The number of suspected cases of cholera has more than doubled in the country over the last five days, says the Doctors Without Frontiers organization.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 23,500 people are probably affected by cholera, and the authorities say the disease has spread to 18 of the country’s 22 provinces. Over 200 people have died of the disease, according to the WHO.
Brende says that if no immediate measures are taken to stop the spread, it may develop into a nationwide outbreak.
“It will have catastrophic consequences for an already hard-hit population,” Brende says.
Half of Yemen’s hospitals are derelict
Half of Yemen’s hospitals and health centers have been deactivated during the two-year civil war.
Norway increased this year’s support to Yemen to NOK 212 million, almost 100 million more than last year. The new aid comes in addition to that.
The Norwegian support is channeled through several UN organizations, the Red Cross movement and humanitarian organizations, which cooperate with local partners in Yemen.
Norway also contributes through the World Bank, the United Nations Emergency Fund (CERF) and the Education and Training Fund in crisis and conflict – Education Cannot Wait.
© NTB Scanpix / Norway Today
