![A malnourished baby receives medical treatment at a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen [Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2017_11-20-yemeni-children20171120_2_26984196_28007428.jpg?fit=920%2C613&ssl=1)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday that 24.4 million Yemenis are in need of humanitarian assistance, 80 per cent of the country’s 28-million-strong population.
Writing on Twitter, the WHO said that “while Yemen is facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, the situation is getting worse year by year. By the end of 2018, 24.4 million Yemenis – 80% of the total population – were in need of humanitarian assistance”.
On Sunday, the WHO announced that millions of Yemeni children continue to suffer in what has been called the greatest humanitarian crisis ever, pointing out that 45 per cent of health facilities in the country are out of service. Further, 16.6 million people lack water and sanitation services.
For nearly four years, Yemen has witnessed fierce fighting between forces loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and Houthi militants, who control several provinces including the Yemeni capital Sanaa.
READ: WFP says Yemen food aid being stolen in Houthi-run areas