“Every Day Things are Getting Worse” The Impact on Children of Attacks on Health Care in Yemen

The ongoing conflict in Yemen, that escalated sharply in March 2015, has led to the near collapse of the country’s already fragile health care system. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that as of January 2017, only 45 percent of medical facilities are functioning and even these face severe shortages in medicines, equipment, and staff.

Prompted by many reports of attacks on hospitals and medical personnel, Watchlist conducted a research mission to Yemen between December 2016 and January 2017. Watchlist interviewed humanitarian actors, medical personnel, and current and former patients to investigate attacks on hospitals and their impact on children’s health and well-being. Watchlist also conducted a systematic desk review of UN and other organizations’ reports of attacks on health care as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid and public. Read this report to learn more and visit the Watchlist webpage to view a photo essay of the dire situation for Yemen and Yemen’s children.