United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: More Than 6,000 Measles Cases and 25 Child Deaths Recorded in Yemen During the First Quarter of 2026
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: More Than 6,000 Measles Cases and 25 Child Deaths Recorded in Yemen During the First Quarter of 2026
A United Nations report has revealed that more than 6,000 measles cases and 25 child deaths were recorded in Yemen during the first quarter of 2026.
According to a recent report issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on the humanitarian situation in Yemen, “more than 6,000 suspected measles cases among children were reported across the country between January 1 and March 31, 2026.”
The report added that around 2,500 of these cases were laboratory-confirmed, while 25 deaths linked to the virus were recorded, reflecting the severity and continued spread of the disease.
The report noted that measles continues to pose a serious threat to the lives of Yemeni children amid widespread food insecurity and deteriorating nutritional conditions, which significantly increase the risks of infection and health complications.
The UN office explained that vaccine hesitancy, the spread of misinformation about vaccines, and worsening economic conditions are major factors limiting children’s access to immunization services and basic healthcare.
The report further indicated that these challenges are particularly severe in remote and conflict-affected areas, as well as in overcrowded displacement camps, where access to healthcare facilities remains extremely limited.
OCHA warned that continued underinvestment in vaccination programs, health surveillance, and community awareness campaigns will lead to a rise in child deaths caused by preventable diseases, particularly measles.
