Measles is surging in Yemen’s Dhamar governorate, where many people do not have access to vaccination against this deadly, yet preventable disease. Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières(MSF) conducted an assessment in Dhamar in March and found that measles cases had doubled compared to last year.
MSF’s emergency team then launched a rapid response in the governorate in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, aiming to treat measles patients and contain the severe outbreak. Since April, our team has been providing much-needed medical care to children affected by the disease in Dhamar.
“I thought she would die at any moment”
More than a decade of ongoing conflict has exhausted Yemen and significantly limited access to health care, making people more vulnerable to preventable diseases like measles. With many areas lacking adequate access to vaccination or health care, families are watching their children suffer from high fevers, rashes, and complications that could have been avoided with timely medical intervention.
“We live two hours away from the nearest hospital,” said the father of Amira, a 12-month-old patient in MSF’s measles isolation ward at Al-Wahda Hospital in Ma-bar City. “People in our village told us that there is a center for treating measles, so I brought her here. When we arrived, she looked lifeless. I thought she would die at any moment.” Amira is his only daughter.
Many people in Yemen like Amira’s father struggle to access health care, and are watching their children suffer from measles and their health deteriorate with great anxiety.
“At first, I thought it was too late to save her and perhaps it was better to just let her rest at home till her last moment,” Amira’s father added. “But when I eventually came here, the health care workers at the isolation center reassured me. They explained her condition and promised to do everything they could. They convinced me to leave her in the isolation unit. Now she has a new life—something I never expected after all she went through. I am forever grateful to the team that brought her back to life.”
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can easily spread in crowded places and lead to serious health complications, especially in children under 5. It is particularly dangerous for those who already have other health conditions or complications. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent and control its spread, not only protecting the individual but also helping to achieve community immunity, which is crucial in preventing future disease outbreaks.
Rapid emergency response is key to curbing measles spread
One of the key components of MSF’s response is our mobile emergency team, which can respond quickly and directly to communities’ urgent medical needs by mobilizing resources, setting up temporary clinics, and providing immediate medical care. This rapid response capability is crucial to controlling the spread of infectious diseases like measles.
The team is currently treating patients in the isolation ward at Al-Wahda Hospital, which has a capacity of 40 beds. We also provide free medical consultations through three mobile clinics that travel across six districts in the governorate. Given the difficulties these patients face in accessing necessary health care, the team also provides referrals and patient transport services from the mobile clinics to the isolation center and transfers severe cases to more advanced medical centers.
Between April and July 2025, the MSF team has treated more than 1,400 measles patients in Dhamar at Al-Wahda Hospital and mobile clinics, with more than 56 percent of patients being children under 5. While it is difficult to identify all the factors that increase the challenges of combating measles and other preventable diseases, significant gaps in routine vaccination and limited access to basic health care facilities play a major role in the large increase in the number of measles patients.
Funding cuts make treating outbreaks more difficult
“Yemen has recently witnessed a worrying increase in measles cases,” says Desma Maina, country director for MSF in Yemen. “This comes amid escalating needs for health care and citizens facing difficulties in accessing it. More than 10 years of war and instability have led to the deterioration of health services in the country. With the recent decrease in humanitarian support and international funding for the health care system in Yemen, we feel deep concern as we witness communities’ growing medical needs.”
The measles outbreak in Yemeni governorates, including Dhamar, is a clear reminder of the importance of vaccination and the need to be prepared for rapid medical intervention in times of crisis. It also shows the necessity of strengthening preventive measures and community participation and treating cases.
Despite MSF teams’ significant efforts, the scale of needs requires a more concerted, comprehensive, and coordinated response from all actors in the health sector to prevent the deterioration of the current situation.
