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War-torn Yemen was already experiencing an acute humanitarian crisis Image caption: War-torn Yemen was already experiencing an acute humanitarian crisis

The UN’s secretary-general has warned that there is a “race against time” to combat the coronavirus in Yemen, where a civil war has already caused the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

Reports indicated that mortality rates from Covid-19 in the second city of Aden were among the highest in the world, António Guterres told a virtual pledging conference .

“That is just one sign of what lies ahead, if we do not act now,” he added.

Just half of Yemen’s health facilities are operational. There are shortages of testing devices, oxygen, ambulances and protective equipment. Many healthcare workers are among those who have been infected. And 50% of the population do not have access to clean water to wash their hands.

Half of Yemenis do not have access to clean water Image caption: Half of Yemenis do not have access to clean water

Guterres said the UN and its partners urgently need $2.4bn (£1.9bn) in funding to cover their operations for the rest of the year. Otherwise, 30 out of 41 major UN programmes will have to close in the next few weeks in a country where 24 million people depend on aid.

The UK has pledged £160m, which Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said would “mean the difference between life and death for thousands of Yemenis”.