Yemen Monitor – Newsroom:
Residents of Abd al-Kuri Island, part of Socotra Archipelago governorate in eastern Yemen, have issued an urgent humanitarian appeal to the Yemeni authorities and the Arab Coalition following a measles outbreak among children on the island. Fears are growing that the epidemic could spread further due to the lack of healthcare services and medical resources.
In their appeal, residents said the island is experiencing “alarming and dangerous” health conditions as measles spreads among children, while the area suffers from a severe shortage of medicines and vaccines, as well as the absence of medical personnel.
According to the director of the health center on Abd al-Kuri Island, four measles cases have been recorded in the “Bir al-Jawz” area, including the death of a young girl. One other child has recovered, while two cases remain under medical observation and are gradually recovering.
Residents warned that the likelihood of the disease spreading in the coming days is increasing, especially given the unavailability of vaccines and essential medicines, in addition to the absence of a general physician on the isolated island, which is difficult to access.
They said families are living in a state of anxiety and fear for their children amid the deteriorating health situation and the lack of urgent government intervention, considering that the continuation of the current situation could lead to a “humanitarian catastrophe” if immediate action is not taken.
The residents called on the Yemeni authorities to urgently send specialized medical teams to the island, provide vaccines, medicines, and medical supplies, support the health center with the necessary staff and resources, and open a humanitarian corridor to transport critical cases.
Meanwhile, local demands have intensified for accountability from health and local authorities in the governorate and the Qalansiyah and Abd al-Kuri district administration, over what activists described as “negligence” in delivering vaccines and essential healthcare services to the island’s residents.
Activists said the Socotra Archipelago governorate is suffering from a major decline in healthcare services, stressing that the continued spread of measles and the deaths of children reflect the scale of neglect facing remote areas in the governorate.
Some parts of Yemen periodically experience outbreaks of diseases and epidemics linked to the deterioration of the healthcare sector caused by years of ongoing war, the collapse of health infrastructure, and shortages of vaccines and basic medical care.
