How do Cancer Patients Live in Yemen Without International and Humanitarian Support?!

Hebah Mohammed – Sawt Al-Amal (Voice of Hope)

In the context of the escalating humanitarian crisis in Yemen, the suffering of cancer patients in this afflicted country is increasing. The spread of the disease and the lack of local, Arab, and international humanitarian support have cast a heavy shadow on the ability to provide adequate care and necessary treatment for these patients who are confronting moments of death.

These silent heroes fall under tragic stories that find no echo in the halls of international decision-making, and to which the ear of humanity does not listen. How do cancer patients live in Yemen without international and humanitarian support?! This question opens a window onto a dark world full of the challenges and difficulties they face daily without any significant impact in our modern world.

The Role of Foundations and International Organizations

In the face of the oblivion surrounding cancer patients in Yemen, their silent stories and their suffering fade into the darkness of international neglect and humanitarian oblivion; these patients live in isolation, struggling between the pressures of the disease and the lack of support that makes every moment seem like a losing personal battle.

Dr. Baleegh Al-Taweel, director of the Cancer Foundation in Ibb Governorate, describes the significant challenges facing Amal Center for Cancer Treatment in Ibb; it relies mainly on local and seasonal donations, especially during Ramadan. Although the center provides its services free of charge according to available capabilities, the daily costs of treating cancer patients remain high. Despite efforts to communicate with international organizations to obtain support, these attempts have not yielded results due to the focus of those organizations on areas other than cancer.

He explained that on the positive side, the World Health Organization (WHO) provided – limited but – important support by providing incentives for medical staff every three months between 2019 and 2020, through the Ministry of Health or the National Cancer Center. This helped strengthen the center’s services during that period. However, the interruption of continuous support puts patients and the center in a difficult situation, as they rely on unstable resources to meet urgent and growing needs.

He pointed to the enormous financial pressures facing Amal Center for Cancer Treatment in Ibb; it receives about 70 patients daily and provides them with comprehensive medical services free of charge, including medications, chemotherapy doses, examinations, and care. However, the center resorts to transferring patients to external centers to receive unavailable services, such as axial tomography, with the foundation bearing at least half the costs.

He stressed that this approach has led to the accumulation of the foundation’s debts to more than twenty million Yemeni riyals, which puts its accounts at risk of suspension by those entities, thereby threatening the continuation of service to patients if these debts are not paid.

Meanwhile, Salah Al-Faqih, head of the Events and Activities Department at the National Cancer Foundation in Sana’a, pointed out that the foundation relies on the support of some organizations that provide medicines directly or contribute to the costs of purchasing them based on the need lists submitted by the foundation, in addition to popular support from merchants and citizens, which helps in the continuation of services. With the upcoming opening of Amal Oncology Hospital, which will be the first surgical oncology hospital in Sana’a, this support becomes even more prominent.

Al-Faqih pointed out that cancer requires huge financial resources, which may cause some international organizations to avoid providing significant support in this field, leaving the biggest burden on the foundation and its supporters.

Tiresome Efforts and Increasing Cancer Victims

In a 2020 World Health Organization report titled “Cancer Patients in Yemen – Between the Pain of the Disease and the Suffering of War,” it affirmed its efforts, in cooperation with its partners, such as King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) and the State of Kuwait, in providing the necessary supplies to save the lives of patients with serious illnesses, including cancer. The organization provided vital support to the National Cancer Center by providing life-saving anticancer and chemotherapy drugs, which were distributed to seven cancer centers across Yemen.

The organization also provided pain relievers such as morphine and fentanyl for cancer patients in advanced stages, along with support for workshops on early detection of breast cancer and psychological support for patients. The reopening of cancer treatment centers in Yemen, thanks to this support, is a crucial step in ensuring the continuity of care for thousands of patients suffering amid conflict conditions.

In early 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) provided vital support to combat cancer in Yemen; it supplied medicines and chemotherapy treatments for 30,000 cancer patients for a full year, as part of its efforts to compensate for the severe shortage of treatments at the National Cancer Treatment Center in Sana’a. The organization also supported early detection efforts for breast cancer by providing Sana’a and Aden hospitals with X-ray imaging equipment.

This support highlights the impact of cancer in Yemen, particularly among the 30-60 age group, which represents 60% of cancer cases, underscoring the continued need for international support to ensure sustainable care and treatment for cancer patients.

The Qatari Red Crescent also published on its official website some of the efforts made by its team in 2021, through an initiative to treat needy patients in Yemen, targeting 1,043 beneficiaries, at a total cost of $424,768. The initiative included covering the costs of radiotherapy for cancer patients and providing medicines and medical supplies for burn and scar patients.

In 2024, the National Cancer Control Foundation in Aden launched a project to support women in the early detection of breast and cervical cancer, funded by the “Human Appeal” organization for $90,000; the project includes supplying medical equipment, providing a solar power system, and covering the cost of screening for 3,250 beneficiaries. In addition, the project supported the foundation with essential materials such as stationery, tools, cleaning supplies, and medical solutions, along with implementing over 42 awareness campaigns throughout Aden Governorate.

The Urgent Need for Intensifying Efforts

Salah Al-Faqih highlighted the significant challenges facing cancer patients in Yemen and the importance of humanitarian solidarity to alleviate their suffering, stating: “It is important to recognize the magnitude of humanity’s responsibility towards cancer patients, which corresponds to the scale of suffering they endure, with its many costly dimensions. This suffering extends beyond pain and the risk of death, encompassing difficulties in accessing treatment, exorbitant costs, and the suffering of those around the patient; their families, friends, and workplaces.”

He noted that the difficult reality in Yemen increases patients’ need for support and solidarity; their suffering ranges from the pain of the disease to deprivation of the simplest forms of care, burdening families, especially when the patient is a child or the family’s breadwinner. He added that the support received by the foundation, whether from local or Arab sources, while important, remains limited and cannot cover the growing needs of cancer patients.

He stressed the need to intensify local and international efforts to provide the necessary resources to combat this disease and support patients under the current circumstances.

In a related context, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Saeed, director of Amal Cancer Center in Taiz, said: “Humanitarian and relief organizations provide simple and intermittent interventions, such as providing some quantities of medicines, treatments, or petroleum derivatives, or food baskets during certain seasons. However, there is no tangible support regarding the provision of diagnostic equipment that the center greatly needs, although this equipment would have the greatest impact in alleviating the suffering of patients in terms of travel and trips abroad, thus reducing the financial costs borne by the center.”

He emphasized that contracting with external entities to provide diagnostic services, such as MRI, CT scan, or PET scan, at the center would make a significant difference in improving treatment and follow-up services. This would contribute to raising recovery rates; it would allow for accurate and early diagnosis of patients, reducing the financial burden on patients and their families, as well as on the center.

Salah Al-Faqih mentioned that the “1-1” campaign held annually in all Yemeni governorates is one of the most prominent local initiatives to support cancer patients in Yemen; the campaign aims to donate one day’s salary or income each year for the benefit of cancer patients. It is a community campaign organized by the national foundation and involves all members of society, from students and employees to merchants and institutions. The importance of the campaign lies in promoting community participation through awareness, thus encouraging more individuals to join and contribute to supporting cancer patients.

The Most Common Types of Cancer

Dr. Saeed Nu’man, a specialist in oncology, radiation therapy, and nuclear medicine, explains that cancer is an abnormal transformation of cells; normal cells turn into cancerous cells that the body cannot control using its natural mechanisms. These cancerous cells multiply uncontrollably and can appear in any part of the body. Cancer is a common disease worldwide, although it was rare in the past. The current spread of cancer is due to several factors, such as alcohol consumption, “Qat” chewing, and smoking of various types, in addition to the irregular use of agricultural pesticides, increased fat consumption, and lack of physical activity.

He discussed some of the most common types of cancer in Yemen, such as breast cancer, which affects women to a large extent and can affect men by 1%. Other common types include cancers of the head and neck, lymphomas, testicular and gastrointestinal cancers, lung cancer, as well as diseases of the female reproductive and urinary systems.

He explained that chemotherapy is available for these diseases, but the shortage of medicines due to the increasing number of patients reduces the effectiveness of treatment, especially regarding biological therapies that play an important role in increasing recovery rates. These treatments need support from the relevant authorities to address this important health challenge.

Dr. Mukhtar Saeed confirms that the increasing number of patients and the growing need for health interventions in the face of the spread of various epidemics, including the Corona pandemic, have placed additional burdens on the health system. These circumstances have led to a decline in attention to cancer patients; the disease has become a lower priority compared to other health problems.

He emphasizes that cancer is an expensive disease and requires a long time for recovery, necessitating rapid intervention and continuous support to ensure the provision of necessary treatment.

Statistics

A 2020 World Health Organization report reflects the significant challenges facing cancer patients in Yemen; the report indicates that about 35,000 people suffer from cancer in the country, and about 11,000 new cases are diagnosed annually.

Dr. Baleegh Al-Taweel, director of the Cancer Foundation in Ibb Governorate, explained that statistics on cancerous tumors in some Yemeni governorates for the year 2023 indicate a disparity in the number of cases between males and females. In Ibb Governorate, 357 cancer cases were recorded among males and 361 among females. In Taiz Governorate, the number of affected males was 24, while females recorded 64 cases. In Al-Hudaida Governorate, only 2 cases were recorded among males and 7 among females. 9 cases were recorded among males and 13 among females in Al-Dhali’ Governorate, while in Dhamar, there were 3 males and 6 females.

Major Challenges

Regarding the most prominent challenges facing humanitarian and relief activities aimed at cancer patients in national cancer control institutions in Yemen, Dr. Mukhtar Saeed mentioned that the high cost of treatments needed by a cancer patient constitutes the biggest challenge facing any cancer treatment center, especially in light of the difficult global situation and the global recession, which has resulted in a reduction in grants provided by organizations.

He pointed out that the number of patients seeking treatment has increased significantly, especially after the opening of Hawban road in Taiz; daily attendance ranges from 200 to 250 cases. This daily pressure on the center is faced by a limited number of technical staff and limited bed capacity, making it difficult to meet the patients’ needs as required.

He added: “Currency fluctuations in the country have significantly affected the availability of medicines and chemotherapy treatments, in addition to the necessary medical supplies to complete treatment correctly and on time according to treatment protocols. This shortage sometimes leads to delays in the timing of doses or burdens patients with part of the treatment costs, which is difficult for many patients to bear under the current difficult circumstances.”

He also explained that one of the major obstacles facing the center is the clear shortage of diagnostic and therapeutic devices, which forces the center to resort to external services to meet these needs. This option constitutes a great burden on the center’s operational budget and affects other aspects of work within the center, limiting its ability to provide care efficiently.

He expressed his hope, along with many specialists and patients, for an increase in the capacity of inpatient wards, an expansion of the available devices in laboratories, and the establishment of an intensive care unit within the center. He stressed that this would significantly reduce the burden on patients and help the center provide better services. Adding the necessary diagnostic devices at the present stage is of paramount importance to achieve progress in the level of healthcare for cancer patients at the center.