Coronavirus: the plight of displaced people in Yemen

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In Yemen, authorities in Aden, in the south of the country, have reported less than 200 cases of Covid-19 and deplore 30 deaths linked to the disease. The Houthi rebellion in the north only recognizes two positive cases. But observers are skeptical. Because Yemen, already ravaged by five years of war, is indeed accumulating crises. Internally displaced people and refugees in this transit country of the Arabian Peninsula are suffering from the consequences of the disease. 

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From our correspondent in the region ,  Nicolas Keraudren

In Yemen, nearly 4 million internally displaced people and around 300,000 refugees are particularly exposed to Covid-19 and its social and economic consequences.

“ They often live crammed under plastic tents or they have rented apartments that have no standard in terms of drinking water or electricity. Most of them are completely destitute and cannot buy soap or other hygiene products , ”explains Jean-Nicolas Beuze, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees representative in Sanaa.

Refugees in this transit country of the Arabian peninsula, mainly Somalis, must also face prejudices: " There is a growing discrimination against foreigners, in particular Africans, who are seen as vectors of the coronavirus ". That is, they are seen as the ones who brought the coronavirus to Yemen.

Access to care is another concern. The UNHCR estimates that more than half of the health infrastructure was destroyed during the war. “ Given the state of the public health system in Yemen, doctors have very few means to treat patients, very few drugs at their disposal. And so the population is a bit resigned, ”underlines Jean-Nicolas Beuze.

In addition to the new coronavirus, epidemics of cholera, dengue and even chikungunya are raging in Yemen.

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• Coronavirus
• Refugees
• Health and Medicine
• Yemen