Document

The study reviews Yemen’s health system performance before and after the internationalisation of conflict in March 2015, using literature and data from 2005 to 2016. Prior to the conflict escalation, Yemen saw some health improvements such as increased life expectancy and reduced infant and maternal mortality, despite systemic weaknesses and disparities in rural access. Since the conflict intensified, mortality and injury rates have risen, life expectancy declined, and child and maternal mortality worsened, compounded by increasing malnutrition. Health service delivery has deteriorated drastically due to funding shortages, damaged facilities, medication and equipment scarcities, and fragmented governance. The study concludes that Yemen’s health system has been devastated by war, signaling urgent need for health system reconstruction planning despite uncertainties about health worker losses and alternative service provision.