IOM Yemen: A Lifeline Amid Crisis - Combating Cholera in Yemen's Displacement Camps

Ma’rib, Yemen – Life in Al Jufainah Camp, home to over 15,000 displaced families, is a daily battle for survival. In Yemen’s largest displacement site, makeshift shelters are packed tightly along dusty winding paths. Access to clean water is scarce and sanitation facilities are almost out of reach, creating conditions where diseases thrive. Among these, cholera remains the most persistent threat, endangering the lives of families already struggling to survive. 

Cholera has haunted Yemen since 2016, but by late 2023, the situation spiraled into a full-blown emergency. Cases of severe watery diarrhea began to rise at an alarming rate, prompting the national cholera taskforce to declare the first wave of a new outbreak. In camps like Al Jufainah, where families already struggle with overcrowding and a lack of essentials, the disease hit hardest.  

Parents watched helplessly as their children became weaker by the day, with limited access to healthcare leaving many with nowhere to turn. Over 240,000 suspected cases have been reported and hundreds of lives have been lost – many of them young children. 

For Basma, a mother of three who fled Ta’iz in 2018, the outbreak brought fear and uncertainty. “We live in overcrowded spaces, sharing food and water,” she explains. “When the outbreak began, I was terrified for my children. We didn’t know how to protect ourselves or what cholera was.” 

For Basma, the outbreak was a stark reminder of how fragile life is in the camp. With no reliable healthcare or medical resources, many families turn to traditional remedies, desperate for solutions that rarely work. Basma’s worst fears came to life when her two-year-old son developed severe diarrhea. 

“He was getting worse by the day, so I rushed him to the health centre in the camp and the doctors acted quickly. I don’t know what would have happened if they hadn’t.” – Basma, Displaced Mother 

Turning Point

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) opened the Diarrhea Treatment Centre (DTC) in Al Jufainah in 2024, marking a critical turning point for families like Basma’s by providing life-saving care to a community that had long been deprived of adequate health services. Before its establishment, even minor illnesses could quickly escalate into life-threatening emergencies.

For Basma, who rushed her two-year-old to the centre fearing cholera, the care she received was immediate and reassuring. The doctors quickly determined that her child’s severe diarrhea was due to teething, not cholera. “Having the centre nearby was a blessing,” she says, relieved that her child recovered within days.

“The centre offers free-of-charge and efficient services,” explains Mosaed Abdullah, an IOM Health Assistant in Ma’rib. “We check every patient upon arrival, treat mild cases with oral rehydration, and monitor severe cases with intravenous fluids until they stabilize.” Since its opening, the DTC has treated over 1,500 patients suffering from mild to moderate diarrhea.

Recognizing the critical need for accessible healthcare, IOM has played a pivotal role in establishing and operating DTCs and Oral Rehydration Points (ORPs) across eight governorates. “Training our healthcare teams has made a real difference,” says Dr. Fawaz, IOM’s Health Officer in Ma’rib, emphasizing the importance of equipping healthcare workers with the skills needed to manage such crises.

Health Education

Beyond treatment, the DTC has become a hub for health education in Al Jufainah. IOM’s health teams regularly promote simple but vital hygiene practices throughout the camp. Teaching families to wash hands with soap and boil water before drinking has significantly reduced the risk of cholera. 

For Basma, these lessons have been transformative. “I now make sure my children stay clean and drink boiled water. These small steps protect us,” she shares. IOM’s teams also conduct home visits, distribute risk reduction educational materials, and emphasize the importance of consistent hygiene measures. This proactive approach empowers families to take charge of their well-being and helps create a healthier, more resilient community.

Despite limited funding and immense strain on Yemen’s health system, IOM remains committed to providing care for the most vulnerable. However, the closure of other health facilities and overcrowding in displacement camps have placed growing pressure on Al Jufainah’s DTC. 

“We now receive an overwhelming number of cases. Just last month, we treated nearly 700 patients, most of them children under five.” – Mosaed Abdullah, IOM Health Assistant 

Dedicated Care

Despite these efforts, the root causes of disease persist. Overcrowding and the lack of clean water make outbreaks an ever-present risk. “The most pressing challenge is the lack of proper infrastructure,” explains Mosaed. Marib is home to over 230 camps and, by the end of 2023, housed more than two million displaced people, placing immense strain on its already fragile health system.

Health workers at the DTC remain dedicated despite the immense challenges they face. “Every recovery reminds us of the importance of our work,” says Aliya Mohammed, a nurse at the center. “Resources may be limited, but watching patients heal motivates us to keep going each day.”

IOM’s broader efforts include supporting 20 oral rehydration points, equipping five DTCs with essential supplies, and training healthcare workers in early diagnosis and standard treatments. Yet, sustaining these services requires urgent funding.

“Every patient who walks through our doors is someone’s child, parent or sibling,” says Dr. Fawaz. “We need the support to keep these centres running and give families a fighting chance.”