Yemen Health Ministry Reports Collapse of Medical Services in Coastal Taiz Districts

The Yemeni Ministry of Public Health and Population has reported that approximately 80 percent of healthcare facilities across five coastal districts in Taiz province are currently out of service, leaving only a fraction of medical infrastructure operational amid a critical shortage of supplies and personnel.

In an official statement, the ministry detailed that facilities in the districts of Al-Makha, Dhubab, Al-Wazi'iyah, Maqbanah, and Mawza have suffered extensive damage, ranging from physical destruction and looting to complete operational collapse. Key institutions, including the Martyr Abdulaziz Abdulghani Center and the Saudi Field Hospital, have been shuttered, while the Al-Wahjah Health Center is operating only at partial capacity. Furthermore, 18 additional health facilities have ceased operations entirely.

The ministry issued a stark warning regarding the stability of the broader health network, noting that more than 45 additional facilities are at immediate risk of closure. These sites are facing critical shortages of essential medicines, vaccines, family planning supplies, and therapeutic nutrition materials, which threatens to further isolate the local population from life-saving care.

The crisis has extended to the districts of Ash Shamayatayn and Jabal Habashi, where 11 health facilities that previously served affected populations have halted all services. This disruption has severely impeded access to emergency medical care, particularly for pregnant women and patients requiring urgent intervention. According to the ministry, the situation is compounded by road closures, fractured communication networks, and persistent insecurity in the region.

The collapse of the healthcare sector in Taiz is largely attributed to the ongoing military escalation between government forces and Houthi militias, which has intensified significantly since August. The ministry warned that the continued deterioration of these essential services poses a grave threat to civilian lives and increases the risk of widespread disease outbreaks and the worsening of preventable medical conditions.