Yemen healthcare system nears collapse amid surge in combat casualties

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that Yemen’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse due to an unprecedented surge in combat-related casualties. Hospitals located near active frontlines are facing extreme pressure, with some facilities reporting more than 700 injuries in a single week.

The heaviest burden is being borne by medical facilities in Marib, Taiz, and the Red Sea coast. These hospitals are struggling to manage the influx of wounded amidst a pre-existing fragile system characterized by severe shortages of surgical supplies, anesthesia, oxygen, and essential medicines.

Firas Abu Samra, the ICRC health services coordinator, noted that only a small number of functioning facilities in Yemen possess the capacity to provide comprehensive trauma care. Medical staff are forced to manage emergency war injuries while simultaneously attempting to provide basic care for mothers, children, and patients with chronic illnesses. The crisis is further compounded by economic difficulties, mass displacement, and disease outbreaks.