United Nations in Yemen

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Yemen:

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Publication

28 April 2025

UN Yemen Country Results Report 2024

This report highlights the resilience of the Yemeni people and the collaborative impact of the United Nations Country Team and its partners in 2024. Despite immense challenges, significant strides were made in delivering essential development support, strengthening local capacities, and fostering pathways towards stability.Understand how the UN addressed critical needs in food security, healthcare, education, and livelihoods, while strengthening governance and promoting inclusive solutions. Discover the importance of strategic partnerships, innovative approaches, and the unwavering commitment to sustainable development goals in the Yemeni context.Download the full report to learn more about the UN's activities, achievements, and ongoing dedication to supporting Yemen's journey towards a peaceful and prosperous future.

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Press Release

05 September 2024

IOM Yemen: IOM Appeals for USD 13.3 Million to Help Hundreds of Thousands Affected by Yemen Floods

Yemen, 5 September – In response to the severe flooding and violent windstorms affecting nearly 562,000 people in Yemen, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has launched a USD 13.3 million appeal to deliver urgent life-saving assistance. The unprecedented weather events have compounded the humanitarian crisis in the country, leaving thousands of internally displaced persons and host communities in dire need of assistance. “Yemen is facing yet another devastating chapter in its relentless crisis, exacerbated by the intersection of conflict and extreme weather events,” said Matt Huber, IOM Yemen’s Acting Chief of Mission. “IOM teams are on the ground, working around the clock to deliver immediate relief to families affected by this catastrophe. However, the scale of the destruction is staggering, and we urgently need additional funding to ensure that the most vulnerable are not left behind. We must act immediately to prevent further loss and alleviate the suffering of those impacted.” In recent months, torrential rains and flooding have destroyed homes, displaced thousands of families, and severely damaged critical infrastructure, including health centres, schools, and roads. Across multiple governorates, including Ibb, Sana’a, Ma’rib, Al Hodeidah, and Ta’iz, thousands of people have been left without shelter, clean water, or access to basic services, and scores of lives have been tragically lost. The storms have struck as the country grapples with a cholera outbreak and escalating food insecurity, further exacerbating the vulnerability of displaced families and strained health systems. As the harsh weather conditions are expected to continue, more households are at risk of displacement and exposure to disease outbreaks due to damaged water and health infrastructure. Ma’rib Governorate has been particularly hard-hit, with strong winds since 11 August severely damaging 73 displacement sites and affecting over 21,000 households. Public services, including electricity networks, have been severely affected, aggravating the crisis in one of Yemen’s most vulnerable regions. Urgent shelter repairs and cash assistance are needed, with healthcare services and sanitation infrastructure among the most immediate priorities. Since early August, floodwaters have damaged shelters, roads, water sources, and medical facilities, leaving over 15,000 families in Al Hodeidah and 11,000 in Ta’iz in desperate need of emergency support. These rains have not only led to tragic loss of life but have also wiped out entire communities’ belongings and means of survival. In response to this crisis, IOM is targeting 350,000 people with shelter, non-food items (NFI), cash-based interventions, health, camp coordination and camp management, and water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions. Distribution of water tanks, latrine repairs, and desludging efforts are ongoing in multiple sites, while health services are being expanded, with mobile teams currently treating over 100 individuals and referring critical cases to hospitals. IOM’s efforts are further supported by emergency response committees working tirelessly to register and verify affected households, relocate displaced families, and reduce the risks of further damage. However, the resources available are insufficient to cover the vast needs, with key gaps remaining, especially in the shelter and NFI sector. With no contingency stocks for essential relief items and the situation growing more critical by the day, immediate funding is necessary to address the most pressing needs on the ground. IOM stands ready to scale up its response but requires the necessary resources to do so. With further severe weather expected in the coming weeks and funding constraints, the Organization is urgently calling on the international community to support this appeal to continue providing lifesaving aid and address the overwhelming needs of those affected. To read the full appeal, please visit this page. For more information, please contact:  In Yemen: Monica Chiriac, mchiriac@iom.int  In Cairo: Joe Lowry, jlowry@iom.int  In Geneva: Mohammedali Abunajela, mmabunajela@iom.int 

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Press Release

04 May 2023

Statement: Remarks at the pledging event for the FSO Safer operation co-hosted by the Netherlands and the United Kingdom

First, I want echo Achim’s thank you to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands for having organized this event. And for contributing generously. A third element that they both deserve credit for is recognizing early on the promise of a private-sector initiative to address the Safer which the Fahem Group and SMIT Salvage proposed in mid-2021 – a time when the previous UN plan to inspect the Safer was not moving. The initiative called for a leading maritime salvage company to transfer the oil off the Safer and replace the decaying supertanker’s capacity. That was the basis upon which the United Nations principals asked me to lead and coordinate UN system-wide efforts on the Safer, in September 2021. In December 2021, United Nations senior management endorsed the UN-coordinated plan and asked UNDP to implement it, contingent upon donor funding. In February 2021, I met with the Government of Yemen in Aden, which confirmed its support for the plan. They have remained supportive ever since – as evidenced by a $5 million pledge that they made last year. The Sana’a authorities had been favorable to the original initiative, but insisted that it be done under UN auspices. In March 2022, they signed a memorandum of understanding with the UN that committed them to facilitating the operation. A commitment that they continue to honor. The agreement was also signed by myself with the Fahem Group, which has supported engagement in Sana’a on the initiative since 2021 on a voluntary basis. By April 2022, the UN presented a draft operational plan to begin fundraising. The original budget for phase 1 and 2 was $144 million. As Achim said, the Netherlands pledging event in The Hague last May brought in $33 million, which was a catalyst to move us to where we are today. But finding funds to prevent a catastrophe proved far more difficult than finding money for a disaster. In June, we launched a public crowdfunding campaign for the operation. That has now brought in more than $250,000. More importantly, it captured media attention that galvanized further support for the plan. In August, we received the first pledge from a private entity. $1.2 million from the HSA Group. The International Association of Oil and Gas Producers followed with a $10 million pledge and Trafigura Foundation with $1 million. The private sector, we learned, was concerned about its liability linked to a contribution. UNDP, in particular, led the effort to resolve those issues of concern which gives us a basis for further private sector contributions. By September last year, the UN met the target of $75 million to start the operation. Unfortunately, even as UNDP was gearing up to begin, the cost of suitable replacement vessels surged, chiefly due to developments related to the war in Ukraine. More money was also needed to start the initial phase because of the necessity to purchase a replacement vessel – also linked to the war in Ukraine as suitable vessels for lease were no longer available. The budget for the emergency phase – during which the oil will be transferred – is now $129 million. Most of the funding is now required up front in phase one. Now, the second phase only requires $19 million to complete the project. So, the budget of $148 million is just $4 million more than was presented to donors a year ago. Prior to today’s announcements, we had raised $99.6 million from member states, the private sector and the general public. The general public has provided donations from $1 to $5,000. The broad coalition working to prevent the catastrophe also includes environmental groups like Greenpeace and, in Yemen, Holm Akhdar. Every part of the United Nations is involved, including the International Maritime Organization, the UN Environmental Progamme, and the World Food Progamme. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is among those that have worked on the Safer file for years and has now ensured $20 million of bridging finance. That would need to be replenished by donor funding. I also want to recognize the United States for playing a tireless role in mobilizing resources. It is among the top five donors, together with the Netherlands, Germany, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom. On 9 March, UNDP’s Administrator took the bold decision to purchase the replacement vessel Nautica – before all of the operation was in place. That is because UNDP recognized the extraordinary problem and understood that the cost of inaction is too great, as Achim outlined. UNDP also contracted the Boskalis subsidiary SMIT Salvage, which played an enormously helpful role in developing the UN plan long before it had a contract. With both the Nautica and the SMIT vessel Ndeavor en route to Djibouti, we expect the operation to start before the end of the month. Therefore, I thank all donors for the generous support, and we look forward to further generous support. But the risk of disaster remains. I am forever thankful to the heroic skeleton crew aboard the Safer that continues to do all it can to keep that vessel together until we can organize this salvage operation. None of us will heave a sigh of relief until the oil is transferred. And we will all heave a final sigh of relief when the critical second phase is completed. This requires that the project is fully funded as described. As everyone has said we are just one step away so lets take the final step. Thank you.

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Publication

26 October 2022

UNITED NATIONS YEMEN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION FRAMEWORK 2022 – 2024

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
UN global reform has elevated the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) to be “the most important instrument for planning and implementing UN development activities” in the country. It outlines the UN development system’s contributions to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in an integrated way, with a commitment to leave no one behind, uphold human rights, Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE), and other international standards and obligations. The UNSDCF seeks to address the humanitarian, development and peace challenges in Yemen in an environment where key public institutions are fragmented, no national strategy exists, and where there has been no national budget since 2014. The Yemen UNSDCF outlines the UN’s collective priorities and development objectives to be reached jointly in the next three years 2022-2024 as part of an ongoing and longer- term vision for resilience building and forging of a pathway to peace.
Yemen is a country in conflict. The priorities of this UNSDCF are derived from the analysis of the impacts of this ongoing crisis on the people of Yemen, and the needs and opportunities as outlined in the UN’s Common Country Analysis (CCA) conducted in 2021.
The UN has prioritized four pillars that resonate with the SDG priorities of people, peace, planet and prosperity that aim, as a matter of urgency, to improve people’s lives in Yemen and build resilience that is equitable, inclusive, people-centred, gender responsive and human rights based, through outcomes that: 1. Increase food security, improving livelihood options, and job creation 2. Preserve inclusive, effective and efficient national and local development systems strengthening 3. Drive inclusive economic structural transformation 4. Build social services, social protection, and inclusion for all
The theory of change is driven by an expectation that by 2024 the impact for all people of all ages in Yemen affected by conflict, forced displacement and living in poverty in all its dimensions will experience change in the quality of their lives. This will be possible through increased food security and nutrition, livelihood options and job creation; preserved national and local development and systems strengthening; inclusive economic structural transformation and the building of social services, social protection and inclusion for all. Food security and nutrition, and sustainable and resilient livelihoods and environmental stability will be realized through effective food production and diversified food and nutrition security; and through sustainable climate sensitive environmental management. Rights-based good governance and inclusive gender sensitive improved public services and rule of law will be possible as a result of accountable, inclusive and transparent institutions and systems, as well as the building of trusted justice systems. Increased income security and decent work for women, youth and vulnerable populations will be realised through micro and macro-economic development and job creation. Strengthened social protection and basic social support service delivery focused on support to marginalized groups, and strengthening women and youth leadership in decision making processes will be supported through the preservation of social protection and expanded and effective social assistance and basic services.
The UNSDCF prioritises the population groups in Yemen that have the highest risk of being left behind due to the impact of conflict; economic, social, geographic or political exclusion; and marginalisation. Enacting the central transformative principle of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, whilst challenging in the Yemen context, does provide the lens through which the UNSDCF targets the most vulnerable and prioritise Leaving No One Behind.
On the basis that some groups in Yemen bear the brunt of the conflict due to forced displacement, livelihood disruption, food insecurity, limited social safety nets, increased levels of poverty and poor-
quality housing, the CCA 2021 identifies the following population groups at the greatest risk of being left behind:
- Women and girls - 73 percent of those displaced in Yemen are women and girls, especially women of reproductive age and adolescent girls
- Children – 60 percent of those killed directly by conflict are children under five
- Youth and adolescents – an estimated 2 million school-age girls and boys are out of school as poverty, conflict, and lack of opportunities disrupt their education
- Internally displaced persons – more than 4 million IDPs with 172,000 newly displaced in 2020 and almost 160,000 in 2021
- Refugees, asylum seekers and migrants – Yemen hosts approximately 138,000 migrants and 140,000 refugees and asylum seekers
- Persons with disabilities – 4.5 million Yemenis have at least one disability
- Ethnic and religious minorities – It is estimated that Muhamasheen represent 10 percent of the population living in marginalised conditions
The UNSDCF is comprised of four chapters. Chapter One: explores Yemen’s progress towards the 2030 Agenda through a detailed analysis of the country context drawing on the 2021 CCA. Chapter Two: presents the theory of change generally and per outcome area. Chapter Three: outlines the UNSDCF’s implementation plan focused on the management structure, resources, links to country programming instruments and Yemen’s Business Operations Strategy. Chapter Four: highlights the process for CCA updates, Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning. The Results Framework presents the outcomes and key performance indicators for monitoring agreed targets utilizing verifiable data sets. Two annexes capture the legal basis for all UN entities engaged in the UNSDCF and the mandatory commitments to Harmonised Approaches to Cash Transfers (HACT)1.
The UNSDCF represents the UN’s understanding that continued engagement in Yemen requires an operational architecture under-pinned by the Business Operations Strategy (BOS) and an integrated set of achievable programming priorities. These two strategic approaches of the UN system strengthen and make more inclusive the country’s national and local governance structures, and mainstream the required responses to the economic and health consequences of COVID-19. They tackle food insecurity and nutrition as a matter of priority and integrate the promotion and advancement of gender equality and women’s and girl’s empowerment.

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Press Release

15 August 2024

UNFPA/UNICEF Yemen: Life-saving aid critical as torrential rain sparks deadly floods across Yemen

Sana’a, 15 August 2024As relentless rain and catastrophic flooding in Yemen continue to exacerbate the suffering of families grappling with the impacts of poverty, hunger and protracted conflict, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund and UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, are delivering life-saving aid to some of the most vulnerable individuals through the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM). With torrential rains forecast to continue into September, US$4.9 million is urgently needed to scale up the emergency response. Exceptionally heavy seasonal rains have caused flash floods in Yemen which are wreaking havoc in different parts of the country – the governorates of Al Hodeidah, Hajjah, Sa’ada, and Taizz are among the hardest-hit. Homes, shelters, and belongings have been swept away. Since early August, more than 180,000 people have been affected – over 50,000 people have been displaced in Al Hodeidah alone – a figure that is likely to rise in the coming days. Within 72 hours of the floods, over 80,000 people in flood-affected governorates had received emergency relief through the RRM, including ready to eat food rations, hygiene items, and women’s sanitary products. These items offer some immediate relief from the hardships caused by these catastrophic events. “The devastating floods have increased people’s needs, which are tremendous,” said Enshrah Ahmed, UNFPA Representative to Yemen. “Our RRM teams are working round the clock to provide immediate relief to affected families, but with rising needs and severe weather conditions forecasted, the coming weeks and months will be critical to ensuring affected families can pick themselves up and, at the very least, recover their lives.” In 2024, an estimated 82 percent of people supported through the RRM have been severely affected or displaced by climate-related shocks. As a result of the unseasonal levels of rain, the RRM cluster has had to spring into action, overstretching RRM teams, and depleting available supplies and resources. As needs continue to rise, RRM teams are struggling to reach affected families due to damaged roads, the erosion of landmines and unexploded ordnance from frontline to civilian areas. Items included in the RRM package are also in short supply. “The situation in the flooded areas is devastating. UNICEF and partners are on the ground providing urgently needed support to those impacted. The role of the Rapid Response Teams is critical in times of distress such as this one,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative to Yemen.The RRM in Yemen was established in 2018 to provide a minimum package of immediate, critical life-saving assistance during human-made or natural disasters to newly displaced persons, and people in displacement sites or hard-to-reach areas, until the first line cluster response kicks in. The RRM ensures the distribution of immediate, ready-to-eat rations, basic hygiene kits provided by UNICEF, and women’s sanitary items provided by UNFPA, within 72 hours of a displacement alert. *** For more information, please contact UNFPA Taha Yaseen: Tel. +967 712 224090; yaseen@unfpa.org Lankani Sikurajapathy: Tel. +94773411614; sikurajapathy@unfpa.org UNICEF Kamal Al-Wazizah: Tel. +967 712 223 06; kalwazizah@unicef.org

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Story

09 April 2026

UNFPA Yemen:Two Mothers, One Struggle: Surviving Childbirth in Yemen

Marib/Hadramout - In Yemen, where more than a decade of conflict has displaced over 5.2 million people—80 percent of them women and children—giving birth has become a matter of survival. For women like Hala and Wijdan, motherhood begins not in safety, but amid war, poverty, and uncertainty.Giving Life, Fighting for SurvivalAt 28, Hala fled the conflict in Amran Governorate and now lives with her family in a displacement camp in Marib. Pregnant with twins, she faced hunger, fear, and a lack of medical care. When labor began, neighbors urged her to reach Mohammed Ha’el Hospital, supported by UNFPA and funded by the European Union Humanitarian Aid.When Hala arrived—exhausted and terrified—the medical team immediately took action. The examination revealed that both babies were in breech position, a life-threatening complication.“It was a race against time,” recalled one of the attending nurses. “But we had the equipment, the training, and the will to save her.”Moments later, Hala held her newborn sons in her arms. “Without this hospital and the people who helped me, I don’t know if I would be alive today,” she said. The presence of the facility and the availability of free emergency obstetric care turned what could have been a tragedy into one of survival and hope.Hundreds of kilometers away in Hadramout Governorate, 16-year-old Wijdan faced a similar struggle. Displaced from Hajjah, she arrived at community midwife Noor Hadi’s door in labor—terrified and exhausted.“She was just a child herself, and she had no idea what to expect,” said Noor. Acting quickly, the midwife provided care, guiding Wijdan through the delivery with compassion and skill.“I didn’t think I would survive,” Wijdan whispered. “But thanks to the midwife, I did. She saved me and my baby.”Both women survived because they reached skilled care in time—something many in Yemen cannot.In Yemen, childbirth is often a matter of life and death. Every day, three women die during childbirth—80 percent from causes that are almost entirely preventable. In 2026, 5.5 million people require access to reproductive health services, yet 40 percent of health facilities are partially functioning or closed, and only one in five offers maternal health services. Rising food insecurity has also left over 1.3 million pregnant and breastfeeding women malnourished.A Lifeline of SupportUNFPA, together with local partners such as the Building Foundation for Development and with financial support from the European Union, works to ensure that women and girls have continuous access to life-saving reproductive health services, even in the most remote and conflict-affected areas. This includes supporting emergency obstetric and newborn care units, training midwives, supplying essential medicines and equipment, and deploying mobile clinics to reach displaced communities.In 2025, UNFPA reached 1.5 million women and girls with life-saving reproductive health services, supporting nearly 80,000 safe births across 72 health facilities.However, these services are now at risk of closure. In 2026, UNFPA requires US$71.9 million to continue providing reproductive health and protection services in Yemen, but the response is only 13 percent funded. Without urgent support, thousands of pregnant women and newborns could lose access to the care that keeps them safe and alive.“Every mother deserves to give birth safely,” said Noor. “No matter where she comes from—her life matters.”

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25 March 2026

IOM Yemen: The Weight They Carry: A Family’s Struggle for Water in Al Makha

By:Written by Abeer Al-Hasani | Communication AssistantEdited by Mennatallah Homaid | Senior Communication AssistantWest Coast, Yemen Every morning before the sun fully rises over the coastal plains of Al Makha city, Amat begins her day thinking about the day’s challenge in fetching water. For years, this simple necessity has shaped nearly every decision in her life and her daily routine. “The first thing that comes to my mind is how many times we will need to go to the farms to fetch water,” she recalls.In the absence of a reliable public water network, many families rely on wells located inside nearby farms, where boreholes provide one of the few available water sources for domestic use. Amat grew up in Al Hodeidah, where her family relied on farming for their livelihood. Water was not abundant, but it was accessible enough to sustain life and meet daily use. That changed almost ten years ago, when conflict spread across Yemen’s western regions and forced thousands of families like Amat’s to flee their homes. The family left everything behind and moved to Al Makha, forced to restart their lives from scratch in a district already struggling to provide water for its residents. They soon found themselves facing another constant challenge: finding safe and reliable water, even as they hoped to rebuild their lives in safety and stability. Water scarcity in Yemen is nothing new, but the conflict, now ongoing for over a decade, has damaged infrastructure and limited access to basic services such as water, while climate challenges have further deepened the crisis. Across the country, millions of people lack reliable access to safe drinking water and sanitation services. Along the West Coast, the situation is made even more complex by the coastal environment, which affects groundwater quality.The city’s proximity to the sea, combined with uncontrolled drilling, has increased the salinity of wells. For families who depend on agriculture, fields that once yielded crops have gradually dried up. Like Amat, many women quickly learned that fetching water now requires walking several kilometers to distant farms, sometimes relying on donkeys to carry heavy jerrycans.“We used to take long trips walking in the sun just to collect water, but in recent years the wells have become salty,” explained Amat.Simple domestic activities became difficult under such conditions. Washing clothes with salty water left children’s skin irritated, while bathing sometimes caused burning sensations. Cooking with salty water often ruined the little food they could afford.“It’s unforgettable — the cries of my children when the water caused hair loss and itchy skin. But we continued, because there were no alternatives available,” she added sadly. Water shortage and poor water quality also exposed families to serious health risks. In many cases, the water collected was unsafe, increasing the risks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and Herpes, and other infections. With limited sanitation services and scarce water for proper hygiene, diseases spread easily across the community.While men usually work by the sea, the responsibility of collecting water falls on women and children. For Amat, the burden rested heavily on her young daughters, who organized the daily trips with other girls in the neighborhood and undertook the demanding journey. The task often left them exhausted, with limited energy for anything else.“I relied on my daughters alone, who fetched water even on the most difficult days regardless of the risk,” recounts Amat.Amat also describes the devastating consequences she faced, including a miscarriage caused by carrying heavy jerrycans back home after hours of walking.“It was painful, but I had no other option,” she noted.The time spent searching for water also affected children, as many missed school to help their families. Water shortages sometimes created tensions among communities competing for limited resources. To overcome the ongoing challenges, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched comprehensive efforts to help to restore reliable access to water and improve living conditions along the West Coast, addressing critical challenges, such as water scarcity.Working in coordination with the Local Water and Sanitation Corporation and communities in Al Makha, IOM worked to rehabilitated damaged water systems, restoring non-functional services due to years of conflict, and strengthening the resilience of local communities.Based on technical assessments, the interventions included drilling and rehabilitating wells, installing solar-powered pumping systems and repairing the damaged pipelines. The teams also constructed control rooms to help regulate and stabilize the water supply across different areas of the city. Solar energy has become a critical element of the project, allowing water systems to operate in areas where fuel and electricity are scarce. The team brings safe drinking water from Altobelli well field, i.e. 16km away from the city.For families like Amat’s, the return of water after a long shortage has transformed daily life. Where long journeys to distant farms were once unavoidable, clean water now flows closer to their homes. Across Al Makha and further related areas like Yakhtol and Al Tubailiah, approximately 12,000 people now benefit from the restored water network.“The situation of water was extremely difficult. Families used to walk for hours under the sun to collect water that was often unsafe or too salty,” recounted Eng. Salah Al Hemyri, a Programme Assistant with IOM’s WASH team.“Seeing water finally reaching homes again has restored dignity and improved health for many families,” Alongside rehabilitating and constructing infrastructure, IOM worked to strengthen the sustainability of these systems. The teams conducted regular training sessions for staff of the Local Water and Sanitation Corporation, as well as volunteer community members. These sessions were designed to promote routine maintenance of the network and ensure that the system can continue serving communities long-term.In addition to technical training, IOM’s hygiene promotion teams conducted community awareness sessions coinciding with the reconnection of water services. The sessions focused on daily safe practices, and the hygienic use and protection of water, helping to improve overall health and safety.For Amat and many others, the return of water means more than just a service. It eases daily hardships for her children and opens new opportunities for them to return to school and contribute to rebuilding their community.“Life has become a little easier now,” Concludes Amat. “The days spent fetching water left it’s time for my children to return to education.Al Makha City Water Project was made possible through the generous support of partners like the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), the Government of Japan, the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF), and the German government via KfW Development Bank.***#WorldWaterDay

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24 March 2026

WHO Yemen: Saving lives on the frontline: how the Contingency Fund for Emergencies sustained Yemen’s health response in 2025

Aden, YemenConflict intensified across Yemen in 2025. Repeated air and naval strikes placed immense pressure on the already fragile health system. Hospitals, which were already struggling with critical shortages of medicines, medical supplies and functioning referral services in Sana’a, Hodeida, Al-Baidha and other affected governorates, faced a sudden surge in trauma cases. For injured civilians, access to lifesaving care depended on the ability of health facilities to continue operating under extremely challenging conditions. At this critical moment, the World Health Organization (WHO) rapidly mobilized support through the Contingency Fund for Emergencies (CFE), enabling an immediate scale up of lifesaving health services.Through this rapid financing mechanism, WHO delivered more than 60 metric tons of essential medicines and medical supplies to hospitals across Yemen. The shipments included intravenous fluids, trauma emergency surgical kits (TESK), Interagency Emergency Health Kits (IEHK), blood bags and laboratory reagents, allowing hospitals to continue performing emergency surgeries, blood transfusions and critical diagnostic services.The supplies helped health facilities provide lifesaving care to more than 200 000 people affected by the escalating violence. CFE support to Yemen in 2025 strengthened emergency care capacity, with 6 WHO-supported surgical teams performing over 2000 major lifesaving surgeries and providing consultations and treatment for more than 7000 patients in Sana’a city, Hodeida, Al-Baidha and Al-Dhale’e. Sixteen ambulances supported referral services, enabling the safe transport of 1800 critical patients to facilities capable of providing advanced medical care in Sana’a, Hodeida, Marib and Taiz.To improve emergency preparedness, WHO trained 296 health workers in mass casualty management and basic life support, strengthening the ability of hospitals to respond to sudden surges of trauma cases. Six mobile health teams delivered essential primary health care services to more than 42 000 internally displaced people and vulnerable communities in Hodeida, Hajjah and Taiz.To keep hospitals functioning amid severe electricity shortages, with CFE support WHO supplied around 610 000 litres of fuel to 59 health facilities across northern Yemen, powering generators for operating theatres, laboratories and critical medical equipment and enabling continued emergency care for over 22 000 patients.Though these interventions saved lives and helped stabilize critical services, Yemen’s health system remains under enormous strain. Continued international support and flexible emergency funding are essential to sustain lifesaving operations, protect health services and ensure that millions of Yemenis continue to receive the care they urgently need.

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16 March 2026

WHO Yemen: Restoring immunity by reaching every child: Yemen reinforces immunization

Aden, Yemen Amid one of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises, Yemen has reinforced its national immunization system and successfully interrupted variant poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) transmission in the south.Between 2024 and 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO), with financial support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), delivered comprehensive technical and operational assistance to the Ministry of Public Health and Population. This support strengthened the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and the national Polio programme. A total of 18,832 immunization staff were trained to enhance routine services and 800 polio and vaccine-preventable diseases personnel trained to improve surveillance, outbreak investigation and sample management capacities. Laboratories in Aden, Sana’a and Taiz received nearly US$ 1 million in essential supplies to improve sample storage and testing, and laboratory workforce capacities were strengthened with continuous training.Faced with the threat of cVDPV2 transmission, the response was swift and coordinated. WHO supported the rollout of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), training over 9000 vaccinators and deploying more than 7,000 vaccination teams. Two nationwide vaccination rounds in 2024 achieved 100% coverage. They were followed by 2 additional 100% coverage rounds in 2025, protecting millions of children and expanding access to vitamin A supplementation. “When the outbreak began, we knew we could not afford delays. We went door to door, sometimes walking for hours to reach children in remote villages and displacement sites. Every child vaccinated meant one more family protected and brought us one step closer to stopping the virus,” said community health volunteer Ahlam Ahmed.Reaching those previously unreached was central to the success of the initiative. During 9 integrated outreach rounds across 12 southern governorates, 7620 health workers travelled to remote valleys, mountain settlements and displacement sites.These efforts reached 542,183 children under 5, including 119,702 zero-dose children. More than 222,120 pentavalent doses and 184 063 measles vaccines were administered, helping close long-standing immunity gaps.In northern Yemen, outreach services resumed for the first time in more than 3 years. In 2025, 2.2 million measles-rubella vaccinations were delivered alongside integrated child, maternal and nutrition consultation services.Behind these statistics are families whose confidence in health services is being rebuilt.“For months, we lived in fear of disease spreading among our children. When the vaccination teams arrived, I did not hesitate. I made sure my children were vaccinated immediately. Protecting them is my responsibility. I encourage every parent to vaccinate their children. Every dose brings us closer to a healthier, safer future for all,” said Abdullah Raged.These successes have been made possible by the unwavering commitment of national health authorities and the support of WHO’s donors and partners whose investments enabled workforce training, surveillance strengthening, laboratory improvements, extensive outreach campaigns and the rapid deployment of lifesaving vaccines.The work must continue. In a health landscape shaped by conflict, displacement and system fragility, millions of children remain vulnerable to vaccine‑preventable diseases. Sustained and flexible donor support is essential to maintain immunization coverage, close remaining immunity gaps, sustain robust surveillance and ensure every child receives lifesaving vaccines.With continued partnership and solidarity, Yemen can secure a polio‑free future for its children.

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16 March 2026

WHO Yemen: Yemen introduces a national emergency medicine diploma to address the critical shortage of specialists

Aden, Yemen After a decade of conflict, Yemen’s health system is severely strained.In the face of enormous challenges and overwhelming needs, health care workers remain at the heart of the system, continuing to serve on the front lines. They are the lifeline that keeps hospitals and emergency services functioning. But the critical shortage of specialized emergency physicians limits hospitals’ ability to provide timely, lifesaving care. As of 2026, approximately 23.1 million Yemenis require humanitarian assistance and protection services, with projections indicating more than half of the population will remain in crisis or emergency conditions, underscoring the critical need to invest in the workers that sustain the health system.To help address this gap, WHO Yemen, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and Population and the Yemeni Medical Council for Specialties, supported the launch of Yemen’s first Postgraduate Diploma in Emergency Medicine in Aden on 12 April 2025 via the Emergency Human Capital project funded by The World Bank.The initiative strengthens national institutional capacity by embedding the curriculum within Yemen’s own medical educational system, delivered through the Yemeni Medical Council for Specialties. By collaborating with national institutions and accredited bodies, the programme ensures emergency medicine specialization is locally led and sustainably integrated into health workforce development. The landmark 9-month programme enrolled 25 physicians from public hospitals across southern governorates, including facilities in rural and underserved areas. The training, which combined theoretical instruction with hands-on clinical rotations in emergency rooms and intensive and cardiac care units, equipped participants with the skills needed to manage critical emergency conditions, including trauma, infectious diseases and mass casualty incidents.The programme represents a long-term investment in Yemen’s health workforce, helping establish a national pool of qualified emergency medicine professionals to serve vulnerable populations. By strengthening physicians’ skills, the diploma enhances the quality and timeliness of lifesaving emergency care services in public hospitals, building institutional capacity.As Yemen continues to face one of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises, strengthening the health workforce is vital to sustaining critical health services.Initiatives such as the Postgraduate Diploma in Emergency Medicine help ensure that hospitals can continue delivering lifesaving care under challenging conditions. By investing in national capacity, WHO and its partners are supporting Yemen’s path towards a more resilient health system capable of responding to emergencies and saving lives.

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Press Release

06 April 2026

IOM Sustains Lifesaving Health Services Across Yemen Amid Growing Needs

Aden, Yemen – As Yemen’s health system continues to deteriorate under the weight of prolonged conflict, economic decline, and climate shocks, millions remain without reliable access to basic medical care and face growing risks of preventable disease and death. Despite these challenges, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) remains on the frontlines, delivering critical health services to vulnerable communities in some of the country’s most underserved areas. With a fragile health system—where only 59.3 percent of health facilities are fully functional and vaccination coverage remains limited—Yemen continues to face a high burden of epidemic-prone diseases. Flooding between August and October 2025 further disrupted services, affecting 68,000 households and damaging dozens of health facilities across 162 districts. Regional tensions and instability also complicate humanitarian operations. In 2025, IOM supported over 350,000 primary health-care consultations, including more than 73,000 for migrants. More than 100,000 people were also reached with mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). As part of its mental health response, IOM renovated Ta’iz Mental Hospital, the region’s only referral center. The project installed solar power and provided medical equipment and supplies. These improvements increased hospital capacity and raised the standard of care for patients from Ta’iz and neighboring governorates. Maternal and child health services remain central to IOM’s response. Over 19,000 pregnant women received antenatal care, while more than 3,000 women benefited from postnatal services. IOM also supported over 3,300 safe normal deliveries, and 1,271 Caesarean sections. Preventive care remains essential in mitigating long-term health risks. More than 53,000 children were vaccinated in 2025, while over 15,000 were screened for malnutrition. “Yemen’s health system remains under immense strain, yet the needs continue to grow,” said Abdusattor Esoev, Chief of Mission for IOM in Yemen. “Through sustained support, IOM is helping ensure that vulnerable communities can still access basic health services. But without timely and flexible funding, the ability to maintain these lifesaving interventions will be at serious risk.” Despite these efforts, humanitarian needs remain staggering. An estimated 19.3 million people in Yemen require assistance, including access to essential health services. The continued spread of epidemic-prone diseases, including one of the largest cholera outbreaks globally, adds further pressure to an already overstretched system. To strengthen the health response, IOM supported over 3,400 referrals to secondary health care and trained 132 health-care workers across key areas. As part of the cholera response, IOM supported a Diarrheal Treatment Center (DTC) in Hays and Oral Rehydration Corners (ORCs) in public health facilities. IOM also delivers lifesaving support for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria through the Global Fund–supported Middle East Response programme. In 2025, over 16,500 people received HIV testing, with more than 400 individuals linked to care and over 5,000 continuing treatments. During the same period, over 11,000 TB cases were notified, and nearly 1 million suspected malaria cases were tested. Without sustained investment, critical health services risk further disruption, with serious consequences for millions already facing limited access to care. IOM calls on the international community to urgently scale up funding to sustain lifesaving health services, strengthen outbreak prevention and response, and support the recovery of Yemen’s health system. IOM’s health response is supported by donors, including the European Aid (ECHO), the Government of Japan, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the State of Kuwait, and the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. For more information, please contact: iomyemenmediacomm@iom.int

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Press Release

15 March 2026

IOM Yemen: IOM and the Government of Japan Sign Agreement to Improve the Living Conditions of 293,000 People in Ma’rib, Yemen

Ma’rib, Yemen – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the Government of Japan, has signed an agreement to launch an 840 million yen (approximately US$5.3 million), two-year project that will provide essential support to nearly 293,000 displaced persons (IDPs), host communities, and migrants in Ma’rib Governorate. The initiative delivers integrated assistance across health, water and sanitation (WASH), shelter, education, and disaster risk reduction, helping families recover from Yemen’s protracted crisis and strengthening access to vital services.“This generous support from the Government of Japan will help address urgent humanitarian needs while strengthening essential services for displaced families and the communities hosting them,” said Abdusattor Esoev, IOM Chief of Mission in Yemen. “By improving access to healthcare, safe water, shelter, supporting schools, and implementing community-led infrastructure and disaster risk reduction measures, this project will help Ma’rib’s most vulnerable populations rebuild safer and more dignified lives.”Ma’rib has become a critical hub for displaced populations in Yemen, hosting one of the largest concentrations of displaced people in the country. The governorate now shelters nearly 1.8 million displaced people who have fled conflict and deteriorating conditions — a dramatic surge from its pre-conflict population.The rapid growth of displacement has placed immense pressure on infrastructure and basic services. Many families live in overcrowded settlements with limited access to healthcare, safe water, sanitation, and adequate shelter. More than half of health facilities in Ma’rib have closed due to funding cuts, while over 57,000 displaced people rely on unsafe water sources. Recurrent climate shocks, including flooding, have further heightened vulnerabilities and protection risks —with recent floods destroying over 1,200 shelters.With support from Japan, IOM will implement multi-sectoral interventions to address urgent gaps in Ma’rib City and Ma’rib Alwadi. Health services will be strengthened through medical supplies, essential equipment, and mental health and psychosocial support, reaching an estimated 90,400 patients. Rehabilitation of water and sanitation systems — including upgrades at two major hospitals and the construction of a 1,000 m³ water storage tank — will provide safe, sustainable access to clean water and hygiene facilities for over 72,600 people, reducing waterborne disease risks.In parallel, transitional shelters and essential non-food items — such as mats, blankets, and hygiene kits— will protect 1,000 vulnerable households from environmental hazards. The project will also rehabilitate and upgrade school facilities, ensuring safe, secure learning spaces for children in displacement-affected communities. Community-led infrastructure upgrades, enhancement of electrical connections and disaster risk reduction interventions will protect IDPs and host communities from natural hazards in flood-prone locations.By combining life-saving assistance across health, WASH, shelter, education, and disaster risk reduction, the project aims to improve living conditions, foster durable solutions, and strengthen the ability of displacement-affected communities to cope with ongoing and future challenges.Japan’s contribution comes at a critical moment, as humanitarian funding gaps continue to widen. This initiative forms part of IOM’s broader efforts to support Yemen’s most vulnerable populations, ensuring families have the resources and support needed to recover, regain dignity, and rebuild their lives.For more information, please contact: iomyemenmediacomm@iom.int

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Press Release

23 February 2026

WHO Yemen: WHO continues large-scale malaria response across Yemen

23 February 2026, Aden,Yemen - The World Health Organization (WHO), with the generous support of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), is currently implementing Phase 2 of a project to strengthen malaria control and prevention in Yemen, expanding life-saving malaria and arboviral disease interventions across 15 governorates and more than 200 districts nationwide.Running from March 2025 to February 2028, the project’s goal is to strengthen prevention, surveillance and case management services in high-risk and epidemic-prone areas, prioritizing pregnant women, children under-5, internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, migrants and communities in hard-to-reach locations.Ongoing interventions reaching millionsThe project is expected to benefit 8.7 million people, through an integrated package of interventions designed to reduce malaria-related morbidity and mortality and contain outbreaks of dengue and other arboviral diseases.Activities currently underway include:distribution of malaria rapid diagnostic tests and laboratory supplies to strengthen early detection and confirmation of malaria and dengueprovision of essential antimalarial medicines, ensuring timely treatment for uncomplicated and severe malaria casesreactivation of quality assurance/quality control systems for malaria microscopy in targeted health facilities to improve diagnostic accuracyexpansion of integrated community case management, including training and supervision of community health volunteers to increase access to testing and treatment in remote districtsimplementation of indoor residual spraying in prioritized high-burden and epidemic-prone areasestablishment of continuous distribution of insecticide-treated nets through antenatal care and immunization services to protect pregnant women and infantsstrengthening of integrated entomological surveillance in 16 sentinel sites to monitor mosquito vectors and guide targeted control measuresdeployment of mobile teams to deliver surveillance and case management services in IDP sites and high-risk border areas.Malaria and arboviral diseases remain significant public health threats in Yemen, particularly in areas affected by displacement, environmental changes and limited access to essential services. Sustained surveillance and targeted vector control remain critical to preventing outbreaks and protecting vulnerable communities.“WHO remains committed to ensuring that the most vulnerable populations have access to timely diagnosis, effective treatment and proven prevention tools,” said Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain, WHO Representative in Yemen. “Through strengthened surveillance and community-based services, we are helping to reduce the burden of malaria and other arboviral diseases across the country.”WHO expresses its sincere appreciation to the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) for its continued support to malaria control and prevention efforts in Yemen, enabling the delivery of these life-saving interventions to millions of people at risk.Media contactsWHO Yemen CommunicationsEmail: mediayemen@who.intAbout WHOFounded in 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) is the United Nations agency dedicated to promoting health, keeping the world safe and serving the vulnerable. WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage, coordinate responses to health emergencies and advance well-being for all.

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