Geneva - Yemen risks an imminent collapse in its health system, the UN health agency warned Tuesday, estimating the latest death toll from fighting there at 944.
Another 3,487 people have been listed as injured as of April 17, the World Health Organization said, citing data from medical facilities in Yemen, and stressing that the true numbers were probably higher because many people were unable to reach hospitals for treatment.
Last Friday, the WHO had put the toll at 767 deaths and 2,906 injured in the latest round of fighting that began on March 19. The WHO toll does not distinguish between civilians and fighters.
The organisation also warned that the impoverished Arabian peninsula nation's health services were on the brink of collapse with life-saving medicines and key medical supplies running out.
"Power cuts and fuel shortages also threaten to disrupt the vaccine cold chain, leaving millions of children below the age of five unvaccinated," WHO said in a statement.
"This increases the risk of communicable diseases such as measles, which is prevalent in Yemen, as well as polio, which has been eliminated but is now at risk of reappearing," it added.
WHO said the number of patients able to access health facilities had plummeted since the escalation of hostilities, with a 40 percent drop in the number of daily consultations.
AFP
