A woman dies every two hours during pregnancy or childbirth in Yemen as a result of their inability to access the necessary healthcare, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) warned Wednesday.
Marking World Population Day, UNFPA said on X that Yemen suffers from high rates of preventable maternal deaths.
UNFPA noted that “approximately 5.5 million women have limited or no access to reproductive health services,” while “6 out of 10 births occur without a skilled midwife.”
On 10 July, the Yemeni internationally recognized government announced a reduction of around 70 per cent in international funding for the health sector, urging regional and international organizations to provide sustainable support for the health sector to ensure the continued provision of essential services and to overcome this difficult period.
For nearly two years, Yemen has been experiencing a lull in a war that began over nine years ago.
According to the United Nations, the war has destroyed most sectors in Yemen, particularly the health sector, and caused one of the world’s most catastrophic humanitarian crises.