![A displaced Yemeni wearing a protective mask arrives to receive relief items distributed by the World Food Programme in Sanaa on April 18th, amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. [Essa Ahmed/AFP]](/cnmi_am/images/2020/04/29/23804-Yemen-displaced-man-700_496.webp)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday (April 28th) warned of the impact the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic could have in Middle Eastern conflict zones, and cautioned against loosening confinement measures.
"This fight has become even more challenging with the appearance of the virus in countries such as the Syrian Arabic Republic, Libya and Yemen," said the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean director Ahmed al-Mandhari.
Years of turmoil and conflicts have destroyed healthcare infrastructure in these countries, leaving vulnerable populations prone to infectious diseases as they grapple with limited access to basic medical services, he said.
Another serious challenge is political fragmentation, which often has hindered information sharing and humanitarian access in these countries, he added.
Mandhari also warned against recent easing of confinement measures in some countries in the region.
Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia have recently relaxed curfew hours.
"This premature lifting of physical distancing measures is likely to lead to an uncontrolled resurgence in COVID-19 transmission and an amplified second wave of cases," Mandhari said.
Yemen displaced risk losing shelter
Nearly one million displaced people in Yemen risk losing their shelter, the UN said Tuesday, warning of a funding shortfall as the COVID-19 pandemic looms.
Some $89.4 million is urgently needed in the coming weeks to keep life-saving aid programmes running, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said, warning the shortfall threatens critical aid for nearly one million people.
"Yemen is already considered to be the world's largest humanitarian crisis," UNHCR spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo said.
"The country is now also facing the overlapping threat of the coronavirus pandemic, and the impact of recent torrential rain and flooding."
More than 100,000 people across Yemen have been affected, she said, adding that the aid being sought has become "urgent" as the groups it would be directed to are also the "most vulnerable" to COVID-19.
"For many refugees and displaced families, this is a matter of life and death," Mantoo said.
