The Disease Bringing Yemen to its Knees
- Save The Entire World
- Jun 21, 2020
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 19, 2020
Image Sources (In respective picture order, left to right):
When you turn on the television, the routine headlines pop up: The Black Lives Matter movements all around the world; the coronavirus, which has taken over the world, killing mercilessly in its path, and the clashing tensions in the White House as the 2020 election is on the horizon. However, one singular disease has been taking over a country since 2016. This country sits on the tip of the Middle East, between Saudi Arabia and Oman. This water-borne disease has already taken the lives of over 2,500 people in this country and has affected over 1 million people. This disease, along with political unrest, and armed conflict, is already destroying this country, tearing it apart, bit by bit. The country: is Yemen. The disease: is Cholera.
Cholera, also known as Vibrio cholerae, is a bacteria-caused disease. According to WebMD, it is incredibly infectious and spreads person-to-person through feces. It usually causes watery diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and, eventually, death. Other symptoms of this disease are:
Rapid heartbeat
Loss of skin elasticity
Thirst
Muscle Cramps
Vibrio cholerae is typically found in many different areas, usually where unsanitary stagnant water forms. Such examples include municipal water or drinks sold by vendors. Food can also carry this bacteria, which is known to be found in raw or undercooked seafood, typically from water that is heavily polluted. But why does this affect Yemen in such ruthless ways? What's impeding them from taking action and making progress on fighting the epidemic?
Yemen is a very underdeveloped country, meaning its sanitary practices are not as well-kept as some other countries, such as Switzerland and France, two of the most hygienic countries in the world, according to Countries Today. Cholera thrives in countries or areas that do not keep up with their sanitary customs. Yemen also has very little access to clean water, and people in small villages often get water from nearby rivers and lakes. These bodies of water are remarkably contaminated. They use this water, sometimes to drink, occasionally to rinse their dishes, wash their clothes, etc. This contaminated water, which might contain Vibrio cholerae, spreads onto surfaces that a person might touch, thus the bacteria entering their system. Yemen also lacks crucial supplies to fight any epidemic, as it is so weak and feeble.
An uncontrollable cholera epidemic is one of the many reasons threatening Yemen's existence. A corrupt government, a bloody civil war, a coronavirus pandemic, and a cholera epidemic are all responsible for Yemen's slow and steady deterioration. However, this, and many other issues in Yemen, raise eyebrows in other parts of the world. Organizations such as the United Nations and the World Health Organization are stepping in to constrain the dire situation. The word is circulating about the crisis in Yemen. Donation pages are going up, and images of starving children are leaking out, showing people the true severity of the situation. Several humanitarian missions are on their way, with hopes of aiding the rebuilding of the country. The media is now starting to cover this story, documenting the ruins of buildings and masses of people begging for aid. A problem that has been going on for about four years is finally starting to get the attention it deserves. As Yemen continues, in worse, time will only tell if Yemen can indeed survive.
Please donate at the links found below to organizations that will help feed & take care of those in Yemen, who are not as fortunate as us:
Doctors Without Borders :
UNICEF :
Save The Children :
Comments