September 16 marks the tenth anniversary of a deadly and largely forgotten conflict: the war in Yemen. For a decade, the country has suffered the ravages of a devastating war, which has plunged its population into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. Today , 18.2 million people – one in two Yemenis – need urgent humanitarian aid, and 17.6 million cannot feed themselves properly. One in two children under the age of 5 is stunted.
These challenges are compounded by natural disasters such as flooding and an explosion in cholera cases. Persistent insecurity complicates humanitarian action, with the risk of kidnappings and regular attacks. Faced with this situation, Mehad is working to strengthen local capacities, in particular through training programmes tailored to emergency needs.
In this difficult context, where the healthcare system is on the verge of collapse, Mehad has taken the initiative to strengthen local capacities by launching tailored training programmes. These initiatives aim to respond to the current challenges on the ground, particularly in Aden, where our medical teams are being trained to better manage mass casualties and medical emergencies.
Essential training for local health workers
Under the direction of Dr Pierre Catoire, an emergency doctor and Mehad’s medical coordinator, intensive training was recently organised in Aden. It focused on the management of major emergencies, in particular preparation for mass casualties, emergency care and triage of victims.
The session brought together doctors, surgical technicians and nurses, with the aim of providing them with the skills they need to intervene effectively in crisis situations. Participants learned how to manage mass casualties by adopting strategies for dealing with large numbers of injured people. They were also trained to identify and classify victims according to the severity of their injuries, in order to prioritise interventions. Finally, the training enabled them to master the essential gestures and response protocols in the event of a major health crisis.
Our programmes, such as this training led by Dr Pierre Catoire, are an integral part of our intervention mission in Yemen. Training, supporting and empowering local healthcare workers is at the heart of our strategy to meet the country’s immense health needs.
This project is implemented with the support of the Crisis and Support Centre of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
