KEY ISSUES

• Humanitarian partners are preparing to respond to a possible third wave of cholera as the number of suspected cases increase across Yemen.

• Violence continues in Al Hudaydah and Hajjah governorates with dozens of civilians killed by airstrikes, shelling and clashes in several districts.

• At least 21 children (13 boys; 8 girls) were killed and 82 (51 boys; 31 girls) injured during the conflict in July. Four schools and one hospital were attacked.

• Approximately 1.1 million MT of food was available in Yemen in the first week of August, enough to cover national requirements for about two months.

POSSIBLE THIRD WAVE OF CHOLERA

The number of suspected cholera cases has increased in Yemen, suggesting that the country might face a possible third wave of the epidemic. The current rains have increased the risk. WHO reports increased presentations at health facilities, including severe cases that require further observation, and some deaths. Twenty-two deaths in 16 districts are under investigation.

Since April 2017, more than 1.1 million suspected cholera cases and 2,310 associated deaths have been reported in Yemen. Twenty-one of the 22 governorates (305 out of 333 districts) have been affected. In the last three weeks, 209 districts have reported suspected cholera cases, including Shada District in Sa’ada Governorate which reported its first ever case. The outbreak is the most serious on record.

In the high-risk areas of Al Hudaydah and Ibb governorates, nearly 400,000 people were vaccinated in early August. Supported by UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank and The Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), the vaccination campaign achieved 68 per cent coverage. WHO suggests that more targeting activities need to be done. This includes augmenting water and sanitation activities, communications about risk, ensuring that the second vaccination dose is administered in time and adding more priority districts that need the first dose.

WASH Cluster partners have scaled up cholera prevention and response through rapid response teams and various interventions in cholera risk areas. From January to June, the Cluster reached 7.1 million people through one or a combination of emergency water supply, sanitation, basic hygiene and awareness activities.

UNICEF has prepositioned treatment supplies for over half million cases in three warehouses and in health offices. Stand-by partnership agreements and memoranda of understanding with health offices are being finalised.