Photo courtesy of Anadolu
Nearly 5 million children in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen face heightened health risks after supplies of routine childhood vaccines ran out.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government blamed the shortage on Houthi restrictions that allegedly disrupted vaccine deliveries, limited the movement of immunization teams and interfered with humanitarian work.
The Houthi-run Health Ministry rejected the accusation and said stocks of all nine essential childhood vaccines had been exhausted after UNICEF stopped shipments in late 2025.
Health Ministry spokesperson Anees Al-Asbahi said the last delivery arrived in September 2025 and held UNICEF and vaccine alliance Gavi responsible for the supply gap. The organizations had yet to respond to the claim.
The shortage came as authorities in Marib declared a public health emergency following 12 measles-related deaths and 1,624 infections since the start of the year.
Officials said 290 cases were laboratory-confirmed, with many infections reported in camps for internally displaced families.
Doctors Without Borders warned that repeated measles outbreaks exposed serious weaknesses in routine immunization, access to healthcare and disease monitoring. The group added that cuts in humanitarian funding had further strained vaccination efforts.
UNICEF has said half of Yemen’s population lacks access to healthcare as the country’s health system continues to struggle with years of conflict, limited funding and shortages of essential medical supplies.
