The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the escalating conflict in Yemen is taking a “devastating toll,” with nearly 1,000 people killed, more than 4,200 injured and almost 198,000 displaced since the latest escalation.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the worsening violence is unfolding alongside outbreaks of cholera and measles, placing additional pressure on Yemen’s already strained healthcare system.

Tedros said the WHO’s immediate funding requirement for Yemen has increased more than threefold, rising from $9 million to $31 million because of growing humanitarian and health needs. He urged donors to increase support, warning that lives depend on continued humanitarian assistance.

The latest escalation follows renewed clashes between Houthi forces and forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government. The fighting has become the most serious escalation since a UN-brokered truce in 2022.

WHO had already warned in September that the renewed violence was overwhelming healthcare facilities, with shortages of medicines and medical supplies affecting essential services.

The worsening humanitarian situation has increased calls for international assistance as displacement, disease outbreaks, and pressure on healthcare services continue to grow.