422 Healthcare for displaced persons in Yemen: perspectives of internally displaced and humanitarian professionals

Abstract OP 4: Health Services 2, B302 (FCSH), September 3, 2025, 14:30 - 15:30 Yemen’s decade-long conflict has left over two-thirds of the population in need, with more than 6.5 million displaced. This study explores internally displaced people’s (IDPs’) needs and perceptions of healthcare within the humanitarian system from the perspectives of both IDPs and humanitarian professionals. A qualitative study with purposeful sampling of IDPs and humanitarian professionals in Aden was employed. Data were collected between August and December 2024 through semi-structured face-to-face and online interviews and analyzed using pre-defined codes. Twenty IDPs and fifteen humanitarian professionals were interviewed. One-third of IDPs were unemployed, while the rest worked in low-wage daily jobs. Professionals have diverse experience and managerial levels. Both groups highlighted several healthcare needs, access challenges, inequity, and exclusion of disabled people. The perception of IDPs and professionals was mainly negative, especially in the last two years, with some positive experiences during cholera outbreak. IDPs reported financial barriers, limited availability, and low-quality services in camps’ mobile clinics, which lack essential medications, diagnostics, emergency services, and have recently reduced operations. Some acknowledge their referral role early in the response. Many IDPs sought care at private pharmacies or at public health facilities that often lack services due to shortages in medicine, staff, and equipment, which also affected host communities. While some IDPs registered for NGO-supported surgeries, interviewees received none and relied on charitable individuals or sacrificed other essential needs. Professionals acknowledged IDPs’ vulnerability, particularly in hard-to-reach areas, emphasized the non-discriminatory nature of healthcare facilities when available, though many remain inaccessible and completely or partially non-functional. Both groups recommended strengthening health facilities over mobile clinics to ensure sustainable, equitable healthcare access. The study highlights critical gaps in healthcare aid for IDPs and underscores the need for sustained investment in health facilities to improve the quality, efficiency, accessibility, equity, and inclusion of both displaced and host populations.