Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is witnessing a sharp rise in acute watery diarrhea cases in Hodeidah and Hajjah governorates in Yemen. Just in the week of September 7, cases increased by 65 percent. This surge comes amid worsening humanitarian conditions in the country and drastic global aid funding cuts.
MSF calls on international and regional donors and humanitarian actors to prioritize this response, scale up their support, and help prevent a worsening crisis of this life-threatening illness.
More than 4,400 patients treated since July
The number of patients at Abs General Hospital in Hajjah governorate has doubled to more than 400 patients since the beginning of September. Al Qanawis Hospital in Hodeida reported a weekly average of more than 21 patients—a 50-percent increase—many of whom are children under 5 years of age.
What is acute watery diarrhea?
Acute watery diarrhea is a deadly condition caused by the rapid loss of fluids and electrolytes through diarrhea, which can lead to severe dehydration, kidney failure, and even death if not treated promptly. The illness disproportionately affects children under 5 and other vulnerable groups, with severe dehydration leading to death in many cases. Timely treatment can save lives and prevent unnecessary deaths.
To adequately respond to the higher number of cases over the last several months, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, opened a 50-bed diarrhea treatment center in Abs General Hospital. It was later expanded to 75 beds, and a 20-bed capacity center also opened in Al Qanawis to support the increase of cases. Teams at these centers have treated a total of 4,493 patients of acute watery diarrhea since the start of response in July.
“When my daughter got sick, I took her to the clinic in our area, but her condition only got worse,” said Dosh Hadi*, the mother of an MSF patient. “I was so afraid to lose her. I then brought her to Abs Hospital. The doctors are treating her, and she is feeling better now. We have been displaced multiple times from one place to another, and with no money, it was difficult to travel here. I am thankful the treatment is free.”
Surge comes amid devasting humanitarian aid cuts
“Every day we are seeing more and more children arriving in severe condition, often with complications such as dehydration and malnutrition,” said Aziz Harouna, MSF medical coordinator in Yemen. “Our teams have expanded diarrhea units in the two governorates to treat the cases and are implementing infection prevention and control measures to contain the spread of the disease. The surge comes at a time when the country is already affected by global humanitarian aid cuts.”
Yemen’s crumbling infrastructure, years of protracted conflict, and lack of access to clean water and sanitation—compounded by recent heavy rains—have long fueled the spread of waterborne diseases. Acute watery diarrhea is a life-threatening condition if not treated promptly and poses a particularly grave risk to children under the age of 5. This latest spike comes on top of an already severe humanitarian crisis that continues to affect millions across the country.
MSF health promotion and community outreach teams are conducting individual and group sessions within hospitals for patient caretakers, visitors, and communities to raise awareness about the illness, its symptoms, and ways to prevent it. Meanwhile, water, sanitation, and hygiene teams are ensuring access to safe drinking water inside facilities and reinforcing infection control measures.
*Names have been changed
