Yemen Monitor/Marib/Exclusive:
Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières – MSF) announced on Wednesday the handover of its medical activities in the governorates of Marib and Taiz to local authorities, after years of providing healthcare services in both cities.
MSF’s statement did not specify a reason for stopping its services in Marib and Taiz, but it indicates that the organization has completed the handover of its medical activities to local authorities after years of providing healthcare. It also states that the organization remains committed to continuing to facilitate access to healthcare in its remaining projects in the country.
This comes as international organizations face a severe funding crisis due to the U.S.s’ decision to halt aid to Yemen, following the designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization.
MSF began its work in Marib in 2019, collaborating with local health authorities to provide free care for displaced people and migrants at the Hygiene Fund’s Primary Healthcare Center, in addition to supporting the Al-Ramsa Primary Healthcare Center. Throughout 2024, the organization provided over 32,000 medical consultations, alongside thousands of vaccine doses and care for malnourished children.
In Taiz, where the health crisis posed significant challenges for the most vulnerable populations, MSF has collaborated with the Ministry of Health since 2021 to support maternal and child health services at Al-Jumhuri Hospital, providing tens of thousands of medical consultations and birth assistance. They also offered emergency responses to control outbreaks of infectious diseases like cholera and measles, and distributed aid to displaced people affected by floods.
Tila Mohammed, MSF’s Head of Mission in Sana’a, expressed appreciation for the resilience of Yemenis in the face of these difficult circumstances, emphasizing the importance of supporting women and children. She stressed the organization’s commitment to continuing its efforts to ensure access to health services in its remaining projects within the country.
