Red Cross prepares for second virus wave in Yemen

The Red Cross is preparing for a possible deadly second wave of coronavirus infections in the southern part of Yemen.

The first wave of the outbreak, which seemed to reached its height in late spring and early summer, saw a serious spike in deaths in the southern city.

Then, many health facilities shut their doors due to lack of staff and supplies.

Those that remained open had to turn many of the severely sick away.

On Monday, the International Committee of the Red Cross announced the opening of a new field hospital in Aden to specifically treat coronavirus patients.

Aid workers say they fear that the virus continues to spread largely unchecked in the war-torn country, and want to be better prepared should infections spike again.

"In the eventuality that such a situation would manifest in the city of Aden and in southern Yemen, we would be in a good place, and in a better place, a better place compared to the onset of the first wave," said Abdi Ismail Isse, head of the Yemen mission at the International Committee for the Red Cross.

In the south, an already wrecked health system seems to have completely shut down.

Officially, Yemen has had some 2,030 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus.

However, with a death toll of more than 587, it has the highest ratio of deaths to cases in the world.

It's believed that the vast majority of the country's cases have gone undiagnosed and untreated, and health workers have said only those who are near death are usually brought to hospitals.

The ICRC and other aid groups are also calling on countries to give generously to Yemen as many of the population seems to be slipping closer towards famine and destitution.

The calls for more funds come amid the United Nation's annual general assembly, held virtually this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Isse said that ICRC is preparing to try to meet increasing needs of Yemeni citizens, as the humanitarian situation has deteriorated due to the coronavirus and a number of other factors.

But he says they'll need help in making that happen from donors.

Yemen's ongoing civil war erupted in 2014 and pits the internationally recognized government in the south, backed by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, against the Houthi rebels, who control the north.

Last year, infighting broke out in southern Yemen between government forces and separatists backed by the United Arab Emirates, threatening the anti-Houthi camp.