The suffering of citizens in Abyan Governorate, southern Yemen, is worsening due to the re-emergence of the cholera epidemic amidst the near-total collapse of the healthcare system. Recently, there has been a significant increase in the number of suspected cholera cases across several districts of the governorate.
In early January of this year, the first cholera cases were recorded in the Shuqrah area (eastern Abyan Governorate), with an initial count of four cases among Oromo migrants at the time, which subsequently caused the epidemic to spread noticeably among local population.
On March 15th, the health authorities established the first cholera isolation center in the Al-Kawd area in Khanfir District, the largest district in Abyan Governorate, where the epidemic had rapidly spread across many of its areas. This was followed by the opening of three additional isolation centers in Zunjubar, Lawdar, and Al-Mahfad.
Despite the health office opening four isolation centers in the governorate, they are still insufficient and inadequate compared to the large number influx of patients. Moreover, these centers also lack the basic resources needed to effectively combat the epidemic. Some centers have been forced to convert waiting areas into patient wards, and hospital courtyards have been used to accommodate the increasing number of patients arriving daily.
In this context, Areeda Haidarah, the director of the health isolation center in Al-Kawd, expressed her concern to "Khuyut" about the worsening situation at the Khanfar District’s isolation center, which has only four isolation rooms that cannot accommodate the large number of patients arriving from all areas of the Khanfir District. Further, this struggle is similarly experienced in the other isolation centers in the governorate.
Likewise, residents of other districts in Abyan—such as Jayshan, Mudiyah, Ahwar, and others—complain about the absence of dedicated isolation centers in their areas despite the widespread occurrence of acute diarrhea in these rural regions. They suffer and face considerable difficulties due to the long distances to the nearest isolation centers. They have appealed to the Health Office in the governorate to find solutions to alleviate the health crisis and address their plight.
“Most regions in Abyan province are predominantly rural in nature, lacking essential urban infrastructure and having weak public services, making them more susceptible to and affected by the rapid spread of epidemics. Consequently, the citizens nowadays are experiencing unprecedented anxiety due to the widespread outbreak of acute watery diarrhea across both rural areas and urban areas, amid the deteriorating healthcare infrastructure in the province and their awareness of the significant risks associated with the outbreak.”
In this context, Abdulqader Bajameel, the Director of the Health Office in Zunjubar district, affirmed that the health authorities in the province are doing their utmost to combat the disease and curb its spread. He also emphasized that the isolation centers across the province still require increased health support to manage the crisis, as the daily influx of cases far exceeds the capacity of the isolation centers.
Statistics Highlight the Tragedy
According to official statistics obtained by "Khuyut" from the health offices in the province, the number of acute watery diarrhea cases in Khanfar District has reached 388, including 60 confirmed cholera cases, with six fatalities. In Zunjubar District, there were 364 suspected cholera cases, including 10 confirmed cases, and six fatalities. Similarly, the remaining districts in the province also report a significant spread of the epidemic, although precise statistics on the number of cases are not yet available.
Just as in Lawdar District (eastern Abyan Governorate), the main destination for towns and villages of the central region, the situation appears catastrophic and out of control. Most areas of Lawdar are experiencing a noticeable and catastrophic spread of the epidemic, accompanied by a severe shortage in medical supplies needed to combat it, making the situation more critical and worrying for both health authorities and citizens.
Since March of this year, Lawdar Hospital has received a large number of patients suffering from acute watery diarrhea, totaling about 1,300 cases, including 330 suspected cholera cases, indicating the peak of the health crisis in Lawdar. Consequently, this prompted the health administration to repeatedly appeal to the concerned authorities and international organizations for urgent support to help the hospital manage the crisis and curb the spread of the epidemic.
In early July, the provincial authorities declared a state of emergency after isolation centers could no longer handle the increasing number of acute diarrhea cases and lacked the necessary treatments to mitigate the severity of the epidemic. Consequently, the isolation centers in Abyan had to transfer critical cases to the isolation center at Al-Sadaqah Hospital in Aden province due to their incapacity to accommodate them.
Earlier, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) announced in a report that it had recorded over 63,000 cholera cases in 20 Yemeni provinces since the beginning of this year, including 2,700 confirmed cholera cases.
On May 12, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) announced that approximately 1,000 cholera cases are being recorded daily in Yemen.
Isolated Areas with Cholera
Most regions in Abyan province are predominantly rural in nature, lacking essential urban infrastructure and having weak public services, making them more susceptible to and affected by the rapid spread of epidemics. Consequently, the citizens nowadays are experiencing unprecedented anxiety due to the widespread outbreak of acute watery diarrhea across both rural areas and urban areas, amid the deteriorating healthcare infrastructure in the province and their awareness of the significant risks associated with the outbreak.
On the other hand, the reliance of citizens in many rural areas on traditional methods of water collection has significantly increased the likelihood of cholera outbreaks in these regions, as the water there often becomes contaminated, which is one of the primary reasons for the spread of cholera in these regions.
Additionally, the cities in the governorate are also suffering from garbage accumulation and sewage overflow in vital areas. In light of the epidemic's spread, citizens have appealed to the Cleanliness and Road Fund to intensify and expand its efforts, calling for the removal of waste from main streets and vegetable and fish markets to mitigate the worsening crisis and curb the spread of the epidemic.
In fact, the poor communities and displacement camps in Abyan Governorate are the most affected by the cholera outbreak. These communities lack safety measures, health awareness, and essential life necessities. Therefor, providing these necessities, such as access to clean drinking water and overall area cleanliness, would reduce their likelihood of contracting epidemics and other diseases.
For his part, Salah Balleel, the Director of the Health Office in Khanfar District, pointed out the increasing number of suspected cholera cases among malnourished children living in poor areas and displacement camps in the province. He also confirmed that many of these children are unable to reach the district's isolation center due to financial difficulties they endure.
In the same context, a displaced woman (S.M.) told "Khuyut" that the distance between the isolation center in Al-Kawd and their displacement camp was one of the reasons that made her lost her sister, who suffered from acute watery diarrhea for just two days before passing away. She expressed regret over not having the money for transportation at the time, which prevented her from saving her sister's life. She also confirmed the widespread occurrence of acute diarrhea cases in their camp, particularly among children and the elderly.
Urgent Health Appeals
The cholera outbreak in Abyan has caused panic and concern among both citizens and health authorities, adding to the many challenges already faced by the governorate's residents. Health offices and citizens are continuously appealing for measures and support to overcome the crisis and curb the spread of the disease. However, indicators suggest that the Ministry of Health is struggling to combat the epidemic, which has been escalating since early March of this year.
