Significant Rise in Cancer Cases in Taiz, Yemen during 2025

SadaNews - Taysir Al-Samahi, the media official at the Ministry of Public Health and Population in Taiz, Yemen, revealed that nearly two thousand cancer cases were recorded during the last year, 2025, representing a 21% increase compared to the previous year.

Al-Samahi explained in a statement to Al-Jazeera Net that the medical authorities recorded 1,967 cancer cases in Taiz (the most populous governorate in Yemen) during the year 2025.

He warned that the number of cases increased by 21%, compared to 2024, which saw 1,626 cancer cases in the governorate. He pointed out that these cases were treated at the Al-Amal Center for Cancer Treatment in Taiz, which is considered one of the most important medical facilities for cancer treatment in Yemen.

Regarding the causes of the rise in cases, Al-Samahi attributed it to several factors, the most notable being the continued indiscriminate use of toxic pesticides in khat and vegetable farms, some of which are smuggled and internationally prohibited. He also noted the deterioration of water and sewage networks and the accumulation of waste, which may lead to the contamination of soil and groundwater with toxic materials.

Medical authorities in Yemen have confirmed that they record an average of 30,000 cancer cases annually in the country, emphasizing the need to adhere to preventive measures against this malignant disease.

It is worth mentioning that the healthcare sector in Yemen is facing significant challenges amid ongoing military and political conflicts in the country for nearly 11 years, which has made most of the population in need of medical assistance, according to UN reports.

Source: Al-Jazeera