Red Cross report of one million cholera cases in Yemen is exaggerated, says Arab alliance
DUBAI (Reuters) – The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said on Friday that an announcement by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which said cholera in the country had reached one million suspected cases, was exaggerated.
“It is nearly impossible to accurately determine whether the suspected cases are cholera or simple diarrhea,” a statement by the coalition’s spokesman said.
Yemen, one of the Arab world’s poorest countries, is embroiled in a proxy war between the Houthi armed movement aligned with Iran, and a US-backed military coalition headed by Saudi Arabia.
Cholera flared up in April and spread rapidly, killing 2,227 people, but the death rate has since fallen dramatically.
The ICRC on Wednesday, said there were one million suspected cases.
A new wave of cholera is expected in March or April.
Yemen’s troubles have been aggravated by the Saudi-led coalition’s blockade of its ports, which has resulted in a fuel shortage and a spike in food prices. The health system has virtually collapsed, with health workers going unpaid for a year, although the World Health Organization gives incentive payments for those doing cholera work.
Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday, it would allow the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeidah, vital for aid, to stay open for a month.
The coalition spokesman also said Houthis were suspicious of vaccination drives and do not readily allow humanitarian aid and workers into their territory, and “even loot food and medical supplies.”
The Houthis deny diverting aid to supply their own forces.