LONDON: Houthi militia backed by Iran in Yemen refused to allow World Health Organization (WHO) staff to start a major inoculation campaign against a cholera epidemic in the country. More than 18 months have passed since the UN organisation declared that a cholera epidemic was spreading in Yemen, due to poor hygene and water sanitation. Sabaa news agency reported that Houthi militia leadership blocked the program that was due to start in Sanaaa a year ago, and humanitarian workers are still awaiting Houthi militia approval for the campaign to start and to treat most of Yemen"s polpulation. The WHO indicated that there were more than a million cases of cholerainfection in Yemen, and that more than 2,000 Yemenis have died as a result.