SANAA, Yemen — Yemen is trying to get ahead of the coronavirus crisis, but it faces a daunting task. Though it hadn't reported a single case of COVID-19 as of March 24, the country's medical infrastructure, debilitated from five years of civil war, and its fractured society leave it especially vulnerable to the pandemic.

Taha al-Mutawakel, health minister for the Houthis' National Salvation Government, held his first news conference on the virus March 21. He warned that 93% of the country’s medical equipment is out of service because of Yemen's civil war between the Iran-affiliated Houthis and the UN-recognized, Saudi-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

Meanwhile, GNA Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik said schools in his government's areas were closed for a week and health professionals were testing travelers arriving at the country's entry points. The Health Ministry has designated $4 million to combat the virus.

The Houthis' National Salvation Government has also taken several precautionary measures, closing all educational institutions, cafes and wedding halls in Houthi-controlled areas, and postponing other events, including press conferences. The measures included closing the Sanaa airport, which has been under travel restrictions since 2016. On March 16, Houthis ordered the closure of all land crossings between GNA-controlled provinces and Houthi-held provinces in the north for two weeks.