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“group denied”Human Rights Watch“, Wednesday, hampering relief efforts and worsening the deadly cholera outbreak across Yemen.

In a statement published on its website, the group criticized the parties to the conflict, including the Houthis, the Yemeni government, and the Southern Transitional Council, for blocking aid. and access to information, and did not take sufficient protective measures to reduce the spread. of cholera. The Houthis also detained and threatened civil society workers, including humanitarian relief workers, in a recent arrest campaign.

The agency said data collected by relief agencies shows that from January 1 to July 19, there were about 95,000 suspected cases of cholera, which led to the death of at least 258 people, according to a person who worked with it. the “Yemen Health Agency,” organization. From relief agencies, authorities and donors, led by the World Health Organization.

The group called on all parties to the conflict to stop the violations and abuses of the Yemenis’ right to health, and the Houthis must end the arbitrary arrest of civil society workers and humanitarian aid workers.

“The obstacles facing relief efforts by the Yemeni authorities, especially the Houthis, are contributing to the spread of cholera,” said Nico Jafarnia, Yemen and Bahrain researcher at Human Rights Watch. this, more than 200 people have died from this disease prevention, and the Houthis have “The detention of aid workers is a real risk that will increase restrictions on life-saving aid. “

Human Rights Watch spoke to seven doctors working in hospitals across Yemen about the cholera response, and to several other health care professionals.

Human Rights Watch also contacted 20 officials in relief agencies, including doctors and epidemiologists working to respond to the cholera outbreak, and a government health official. On July 24, Human Rights Watch wrote to the Yemeni government, the Houthis, and the Southern Transitional Council to request more information.

The group said that it is not clear where the outbreak came from, but that cholera is endemic in Yemen. According to the International Organization for Migration, during the last cholera outbreak in Yemen from 2016 to 2022, Yemen had 2.5 million suspected cases, “the largest reported cholera outbreak ever in modern history,” with more than 4,000 deaths.

According to the group, despite this great loss of life, the authorities did not take the necessary measures to prevent future outbreaks of the disease. Cholera is mainly spread through water and agricultural products, such as fruit and vegetables However, the authorities and donors have not taken enough steps to invest in infrastructure adequate water, sanitation and hygiene throughout Yemen, and did not take the initiative to sensitize local communities. on effective practices and preventive measures in the field of hygiene and agriculture.

According to what a doctor working with a relief group in a Houthi-controlled area told Human Rights Watch, although patients began showing symptoms of cholera as early as November 2023, the Houthi authorities refused to acknowledge the crisis to humanitarian groups. until March 18, 2024, when there were already thousands of cases. In March, the Houthis finally began to provide information on cholera cases in the areas they control, but they did not declare an outbreak.

Sources of humanitarian organizations told the group that the authorities, especially the Houthis, have pressured UN agencies and humanitarian organizations to stop publishing public data on cholera cases or deaths. As of April 30, the World Health Organization has not announced any new data on the number of registered cholera cases.

However, sources told Human Rights Watch that case numbers have risen rapidly since April, when the World Health Organization last reported case numbers. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on May 12 that there were approximately 500 to 1,000 new cases per day, and that “health partners expect the total number of cases to be between 133,000 and 255,000 by September 2024.”

The group explained that the efforts of the Houthi authorities to prevent aid income through heavy bureaucratic conditions and unjustified the spread of cholera. Despite the call for relief organizations to provide support and funding after the number of cases exploded this spring, the authorities are still imposing complex conditions on organizations to continue with the work, and many programs were canceled pending approvals.

The Yemeni government met with Human Rights Watch and explained that many of the restrictions they face in dealing with cholera are related to a lack of funding. He also provided information explaining the steps he took to inform Yemenis about the revolution.

The Southern Transitional Council also responded, saying that Human Rights Watch should direct its questions to the Yemeni government, even though the Southern Transitional Council includes part of the “Senior Leadership Council -seat” of the eight-member Yemeni government, which replaced former President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi in 2022. STC members also lead the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and the Ministry of Social Affairs, who both deal with humanitarian aid, and who have been involved in blocking aid. The Houthis did not respond to Human Rights Watch’s questions.

Yemen has been witnessing conflict for about 10 years. Since March 2015, the government-aligned Saudi-UAE-led coalition has carried out numerous indiscriminate and disproportionate airstrikes, killing thousands of civilians in Houthi-controlled areas and hitting civilian buildings, including hospitals, in violation of the laws of war. The warring parties destroyed at least 120 medical facilities, as well as water and sanitation facilities.

Houthi authorities have also arrested at least 12 United Nations and civil society workers since May 31, and informed sources told Human Rights Watch that the number of detainees continues to increase.

According to the group, the arrests have left many organizations wondering whether or how to continue providing humanitarian aid safely in Houthi-controlled areas, which could to add to the current cholera.