Yemen continues to be the world’s worst humanitarian crisis with over 24 million people – 80 per cent of the population – in need of some form of humanitarian assistance or protection. In 2020, the situation, which is primarily driven by conflict and an economic blockade, was exacerbated by COVID-19, heavy rains and flooding, escalating hostilities and currency collapse.

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen remains the worst in the world; further deteriorating in 2020, driven by an escalating conflict, collapsing economy, a depreciating currency; exacerbated by torrential rains and flooding, COVID-19 and a fuel crisis. An estimated 24.1 million people – over 80 per cent of the population – are in need of some form of assistance, including 14.4 million who are in acute need.

Since 15 November, the State Emergency Commission (SEC) has identified a total of eight clusters of COVID-19 transmission: two in Ulaanbaatar City and one in Selenge, Darkhan-Uul, Gobisumber, Orkhon, Dornogobi and Arkhangai provinces respectively. The clusters are linked with close and secondary contacts of an index case of COVID-19. The government has taken swift action including contact tracing, the immediate testing of identified contacts, the isolation of contacts, quarantine, and treatment of positive cases.