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

15 June 2026

UN Yemen Country Results Report 2025

After more than a decade of conflict, Yemen, home to more than 40 million people, remains one of the world’s most severe humanitarian and development crises, driven by economic collapse and regional volatility. Humanitarian needs continue to rise, with over 21 million people projected to require assistance in 2026. Acute food insecurity affects an estimated 18.3 million people, while 2.2 million children under five suffer from acute malnutrition. Disease outbreaks, including measles and cholera, are further straining the health system.The development trajectory has sharply deteriorated. Yemen’s economy has contracted by more than 50 per cent since the start of the conflict, with GDP per capita cut by over half. Yemen imports around 90 per cent of its food, leaving it highly exposed to global shocks. Only around 59 per cent of health facilities are fully functional, while access to basic services remains highly uneven. As a result, more than 80 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line.Furthermore, Yemen’s vulnerability to climate change became more evident in 2025, affecting hundreds of thousands of people, with floodingdamaging homes and infrastructure across multiple governorates.The operating environment for the UN entities and partners has further deteriorated, particularly in areas under the control of the Houthi de facto authorities (DFA), where approximately 80 per cent of humanitarian needs are concentrated. The continued arbitrary detention of 73 UN personnel, alongside restrictions on movement and the seizure of UN assets, has severely constrained operations.Amid the crisis, Yemen has made notable policy strides. The newly appointed Government of Yemen has set a clear objective to focus on recovery efforts to address the root causes of recurrent humanitarian crises. This objective is reflected in the adoption of the Government Plan for Economic Development and Urgent Priorities.
The Government has also approved its first National Policy on Internal Displacement.Despite these challenges, opportunities remain to stabilize conditions through a more integrated humanitarian–development approach. This requires sustained international engagement, predictable financing, and a renewed commitment to addressing humanitarian needs while investing in recovery.The UN will continue to support these efforts, aligning its next Cooperation Framework with national priorities in recovery, climate resilience, and social protection. The UNCT’s ability to deliver assistance while laying the groundwork for future recovery remains critical in this complex environment. The next chapter details how the UN’s coordinated efforts under the Cooperation Framework translated these priorities into results, bridging the humanitarian response with development initiatives to support Yemen’s people and institutions in 2025.

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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

06 April 2026

IOM Sustains Lifesaving Health Services Across Yemen Amid Growing Needs

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14 June 2026

WHO Yemen: Bringing health care closer: mobile teams protect displaced families from malaria in Yemen

Aden, Yemen For families living in Yemen’s displacement camps, illness can mean incurring costs they cannot afford. Reaching a health center can involve difficult journeys, particularly during emergencies. Many internally displaced families face an impossible choice between seeking care and meeting daily needs.In Al-Shaab camp in Aden, where many displaced families live in difficult conditions, health challenges are part of daily life. Overcrowding, poor environmental conditions and limited access to services increase the risks of malaria and other vector-borne diseases, especially for women and children.For 21-year-old Abeer Abdulwarith Mohammed Saeed, the challenges are all too familiar. "Sometimes, at night, a child suddenly gets a fever, diarrhoea or vomiting, and there are no emergency services available for us," she said. "If I, my husband or my children get sick, we cannot get treatment because of our limited means."To respond to increasing malaria risks among displaced communities, the World Health Organization (WHO), in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health and Population and with the fund from Saudi Arabia through King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centrethe King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), is deploying mobile malaria teams to internally displaced persons camps in Aden and Marib under the KSrelief-supported Strengthening Malaria Prevention and Control in Yemen – Phase 2 project. The initiative brings health care services directly to communities that would otherwise face challenges accessing health facilities. Instead of expecting vulnerable families to travel long distances, mobile teams visit camps and provide consultations, early diagnosis and treatment, referral of severe cases, mosquito surveillance and control and health awareness activities."The teams are implementing a strategy, through mobile clinics that move across camps, to detect and diagnose cases early, especially in areas that are far from health services," explained Dr Niyaz Abdu Saeed, Director of Malaria Case Management at the National Malaria and vector control Programme.The teams include doctors trained in malaria and dengue case management, laboratory technicians, vector surveillance teams and health education specialists who work together to ensure communities receive integrated support.For Abeer and her family, the mobile team’s visit brought reassurance. "The medical team helped us today with malaria and dengue tests for me and my children," she said. "We waited for the results and thank God, there was no malaria. We are healthy."Another displaced resident, Fawzia Salem Abkar Al-Bahreen, described the daily reality facing many families living in the camp."Even if you have money, it is often not enough for tests or treatment. If you do not have money, you stay at home and endure the illness," she explained. "The team’s arrival makes a big difference for people who have no other way to access treatment."

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12 June 2026

UNFPA Yemen; Women and girls caught up in Yemen’s ‘forgotten crisis’ bear the heaviest toll as funding falls

By Reem Abaza
Yemen remains gripped by one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with 22 million – out of a population of 35 million – requiring assistance. Women and girls account for half of those in need, and two-thirds of them are of childbearing age, placing reproductive health at the heart of the emergency.The UN agency supporting women and girls in the field (UNFPA) is working across the country to meet urgent reproductive needs. It warns that a combination of malnutrition, limited healthcare and rising protection risks is putting lives in jeopardy.‘Malnutrition is on the rise’One of the most immediate concerns is food insecurity. “Unfortunately, malnutrition is on the rise,” says Francesco Galtieri, the agency’s senior official in Yemen. The consequences are particularly severe for pregnant women – when they lack adequate nutrition during pregnancy, the risks to their babies’ development and health increase significantly.Healthcare access, especially in rural and remote areas, is another critical challenge. The country has the highest maternal mortality rate in the Arab region, and three women die every day due to pregnancy complications or during childbirth. Around two-thirds of these deaths could be prevented if they had access to a midwife or doctor.Beyond health, protection from violence is a pressing concern. Conflict and economic hardship have heightened risks for women and girls, who often bear the brunt. Funding cuts result in deathSafe spaces supported by UNFPA offer women refuge and a path to recovery, providing psychosocial support, vocational training and economic empowerment initiatives designed to help survivors rebuild their lives. The agency also provides legal assistance to those seeking justice through Yemen’s legal system.Despite these achievements, funding cuts are putting the programmes under severe strain. Mr. Galtieri told UN News that around 40 per cent of UNFPA’s humanitarian funding was cut last year, forcing the agency to suspend or halt support for roughly one third of its services.In a country with high maternal mortality, reduced services mean that a woman experiencing complications may be unable to access lifesaving care, often resulting in the death of both mother and child.Protection services have also been affected. This year, UNFPA-supported shelters have been unable to accept new survivors of gender-based violence, and the cuts can lead to lasting effects on children affected by malnutrition and trauma. Healthy debate?Mr Galtieri is currently in New York attending meetings of UNFPA’s Executive Board, where representatives from conflict-affected areas are engaging with Member States. Discussions have highlighted renewed debate around sexual and reproductive health and rights, an issue he says has not been under such scrutiny in decades.“I always wonder why, when a society enters into a phase of tension and confrontation, women and girls become the focus of that political confrontation,” he says.Appealing directly to decision-makers, Mr. Galtieri urges greater investment in essential services such as midwifery, arguing that prioritising lifesaving care over other expenditures should not be controversial. Funding decisions often favour other priorities, despite the clear human cost. In Yemen, he warns, that cost is measured in the lives of women and girls who might otherwise have survived.

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10 June 2026

WHO Yemen: Another chance at childhood: Razan’s journey back to hope in Yemen

Lahj, Yemen What began with diarrhoea and vomiting quickly became more serious. Razan’s health rapidly deteriorated. Within days the active little girl, full of energy and curiosity, had stopped eating, drinking and even breastfeeding. As she grew weaker, her family moved from place to place, desperately seeking help.The fear was overwhelming. Razan’s family watched as her condition worsened, knowing they could not afford to pay for the care she needed. Like many families across Yemen, they were living in profound hardship, a result of years of conflict, displacement and economic collapse. By the time Razan arrived at Ibn Khaldoon Hospital in Lahj, her family had exhausted their options.At the hospital’s therapeutic feeding centre (TFC), Razan was immediately assessed and admitted for lifesaving treatment. Supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), the centre provides free care for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition and medical complications.For 7 days Razan received therapeutic milk, medications, nutrition support and continuous medical care – all free of charge. Slowly, she began to recover. Razan started accepting food again, gaining strength day by day.Razan’s story is part of a larger crisis. Across Yemen, conflict, food insecurity and limited access to essential services, including TFCs, place thousands of children at high risk of severe acute malnutrition (SAM). Health facilities are under immense pressure, with increasing numbers of SAM children arriving with multiple health complications. With funding from ECHO, WHO is supporting lifesaving inpatient nutrition services across 33 TFCs in high-burden districts, helping thousands of vulnerable women and children access lifesaving treatment and critical support services. These interventions provide therapeutic feeding supplies, laboratory services, oxygen, WASH support, caregiver meals and care for children whose survival depends on timely treatment.Behind every recovery are frontline health workers, who work around the clock in seemingly impossible conditions to save lives."Every child deserves the chance to survive, grow and thrive. No parent or caregiver should have to fear losing a child because they cannot access the care they need. Every child who recovers is a reminder that hope can be restored and that together we can give children a chance for a healthier future," said WHO Representative in Yemen Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain.Today, Razan is recovering. As her strength returns, so too does hope, for Razan’s family and for the many other families in similar situations. For thousands of vulnerable children across Yemen, timely access to lifesaving nutrition services means another chance at childhood.With funding from ECHO, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health and Population, WHO is delivering lifesaving nutrition support across Yemen, helping children survive and giving families renewed hope for the future.

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23 May 2026

UNFPA Yemen: "I am reclaiming my health, my dignity, and my life": Women healing from obstetric fistula in Yemen

ADEN, Yemen "I lived in silence, hiding my pain from others, enduring my own gaze before enduring theirs," recalls Safiy, 28 years from Bajil District in Al Hudaydah Governorate. For five years, Safiy carried a pain she could neither understand nor explain. After severe complications during childbirth at a hospital in Bajil, she began experiencing faecal leakage—a condition that would force her to withdraw from from daily life.Amina, 20 years, from Aden Governorate too, faced her own silent battle. Married at fifteen and pregnant nine months later, she had no access to antenatal care in her remote village. When labour came, it lasted three agonizing days with only a traditional birth attendant by her side. By the time she reached a hospital, her baby had died. An emergency cesarean section saved her life, but left her with an obstetric fistula—a devastating childbirth injury that would isolate her for a year and a half.Safiy and Amina's stories reflect a harsh reality facing thousands of women across Yemen. Global estimates reveal that Yemen has the highest prevalence of obstetric fistula in the Arab States region—113 cases per 100,000 women as of 2020, compared to 86 per 100,000 across Arab States and 36 per 100,000 in Asia and the Pacific. Obstetric fistula—a hole between the birth canal and bladder or rectum caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without timely medical intervention—is both preventable and treatable. Yet in Yemen, a perfect storm of factors has made it a persistent crisis: early marriage and adolescent pregnancy, critically low rates of skilled birth attendance, and a healthcare system devastated by over a decade of conflict.When Systems Collapse, Women Pay the PriceThe conflict and humanitarian crisis have pushed Yemen's healthcare system to the brink. An estimated 19.4 million people lack access to basic healthcare, including reproductive health services.Nearly half of all health facilities remain fully or partially functional, and only one in five of them provide maternal and newborn care. Almost half of all childbirths occur outside a health facility.Nearly a quarter of pregnant women do not receive antenatal care, while only 3 in five women give birth with skilled assistance. For women like Safiy and Amina, the barriers to treatment are formidable: limited functional facilities with operating theatres and specialized fistula care, financial and transportation obstacles, weak referral systems in remote areas, and a severe shortage of trained fistula surgeons. Most devastating is the social stigma—the isolation and psychological trauma that discourage women from seeking care at all.A Lifeline in DarknessSafiy decided not to surrender. After being examined at a health facility in Al Huban, she was referred to a UNFPA-supported fistula treatment centre at Al Sadaqa Hospital in Aden."When the doctor told me about my condition, she said treatment was possible," Safiy remembers. "Those words alone gave me back my breath."She underwent surgery successfully at no cost, and received financial support to cover the transportation. "I could not believe the pain that had accompanied me for five years could come to an end," she says. "Today, I am recovering step by step. I am reclaiming my health, my dignity, and my life."Amina's path to healing followed a similar trajectory. When she learned about the fistula treatment centre she contacted the coordinator and traveled to Al Sadaqa Hospital. After successful surgery, her recovery began."The hospital not only treated my condition but restored my dignity and renewed my confidence in life," Amina says. "They gave me the chance for a new beginning.”Building Back BetterUNFPA supports two dedicated obstetric fistula treatment centers in Yemen—at Al Sadaqa Hospital in Aden and Al Thawra Hospital in Sana'a—providing surgical repair, training midwives, supporting safe childbirth practices, and ensuring women with complications can access skilled care. Since 2023, nearly 300 obstetric fistula repair surgeries have been successfully completed at these two centres. Through partnerships with Ministry of Public Health and local organizations like Deem for Development Organization, UNFPA is working to strengthen referral systems, expand access to emergency obstetric care, and address the root causes that result in obstetric fistula. But the need far outweighs current capacity with steep funding cuts threating the suspension of UNFPA’s support to these two centres "Yes, my story is full of pain, but it is also full of hope,” recalls Safiy.On the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, that hope needs to transform into action. Obstetric fistula is preventable and treatable; ending it is within our reach.#EndFistula
#YemenCannotWait

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18 May 2026

WHO Yemen: Creating safer, more resilient hospitals in Yemen

Aden, Yemen Hospitals, a cornerstone of functioning health systems, continue to face significant challenges in Yemen due to the ongoing conflict, limited resources, damaged infrastructure and the growing impacts of climate change.To address these challenges, in 2023 the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Public Health and Population launched an initiative to enhance hospital resilience. As WHO Representative to Yemen, Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain, explained: “The initiative aims to build capacities to prepare for and respond to a sudden increase in demand for emergency care during crises, including cyclones, floods and mass casualty events.”The initiative, supported by the World Bank as part of the Emergency Human Capital Project (EHCP), includes training hospital managers and staff on disaster management concepts and establishing disaster management teams within participating facilities. So far nine governorate hospitals are participating in the initiative. More than 263 of their staff (50% female) have participated in training. Collectively, these hospitals serve millions of people every year.To coordinate and roll out the initiative, local trainers have been appointed in each targeted governorate.Building on orientation and initial training activities, participating hospitals have conducted baseline risk assessments to determine the crises they are most likely to face. Using the WHO operational guide and the Hospital Safety Index, participating hospitals developed improvement plans to enhance preparedness. Hospitals are now implementing these plans using their own budgets, including repairs and maintenance to strengthen safety. WHO provided online training on the Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) in 2024 for more than 70 health workers from 10 governorates across the country. The training targeted emergency room managers, technical managers and quality team leads in hospitals and aimed to better assess emergency room conditions and identify service gaps.All of this work builds on the success of the hospital care and management programme, previously implemented by WHO with support from the World Bank. Through this programme, more than 1,700 hospital managers and senior health staff across Yemen were equipped with essential skills in leadership, quality of care, and emergency and disaster management, helping to strengthen hospital performance nationwide. Building on these achievements, the same trained staff are now taking part in the hospital resilience initiative, where they continue to strengthen and enhance their skills.Moving forward, hospitals plan to continue rolling out disaster management training, including drills and post-exercise debriefings. They also hope to invest in better communication systems for internal and external coordination. Given significant challenges in ensuring uninterrupted provision of electricity, water and sanitation services, hospitals are exploring backup systems to maintain essential operations. Hospitals will also seek to improve patient data management, enhance community coordination and provide mental health support for staff and patients in times of crisis.

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Press Release

10 June 2026

Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – Two years of detention of UN and other personnel in Yemen

The Secretary-General reiterates his condemnation of the arbitrary detention of dozens of personnel from the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, and diplomatic missions by the Houthi de facto authorities in June 2024. He also again condemns the arbitrary detention of UN personnel in 2025, 2023, and 2021 and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained.Seventy-three United Nations personnel remain arbitrarily detained. One United Nations colleague has died in detention. Some colleagues are being held incommunicado. These actions violate international law, cause deep suffering to families, and have severely constrained the ability of the United Nations and its partners to assist millions of people in need across Yemen.United Nations personnel, including those who are nationals of Yemen, are immune from legal process in respect of all acts performed by them in their official capacity. The Secretary-General underscores the importance of continued dialogue and engagement with the Houthi de facto authorities to secure the release of detained personnel and enable the resumption of humanitarian and development activities.The United Nations will continue to pursue all possible avenues to secure the immediate and safe release of those detained. The Secretary-General stands in solidarity with them and their families and reiterates that humanitarian workers should never be targeted or detained for carrying out their vital work.The Secretary-General remains steadfast in the United Nations’ commitment to support the people of Yemen and their aspirations for a just and lasting peace. Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-GeneralNew York, 10 June 2026

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Press Release

05 June 2026

Security Council Press Statement for the Houthi Detentions anniversary 6 June

As the second anniversary of the June 2024 detentions approaches, the members of the Security Council reaffirmed their condemnation in the strongest terms of the detentions by the Houthis of personnel from the United Nations system, national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations and diplomatic missions. They expressed deep concern for the welfare of those personnel unjustly detained since 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025. The members of the Security Council reiterated their demand for the unconditional, safe and immediate release of these detainees, including 73 United Nations personnel, and reiterated that all threats to those delivering humanitarian assistance are unacceptable and worsen the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen. They welcomed the continued work of the United Nations through all possible channels to secure the immediate release of those detained. The members of the Security Council reiterated the obligations of all parties to a conflict to allow and facilitate, in a manner consistent with relevant provisions of international humanitarian law, full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all civilians in need, and to promote the safety, security and freedom of movement of humanitarian, United Nations and associated personnel, and the safety and security of their premises and assets. The members of the Security Council emphasised that the humanitarian situation will continue to deteriorate in the absence of a political solution, with over 22.3 million Yemenis now in need of assistance, and reaffirmed their strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen, and its commitment to stand by the people of Yemen. They reiterated their support for United Nations Special Envoy Hans Grundberg in his efforts towards a negotiated, inclusive, Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political settlement based on the agreed references and consistent with relevant Security Council resolutions. 5 June 2026

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Press Release

02 June 2026

Joint Press Release – FAO, WFP and UNICEF: NEARLY HALF OF THE POPULATION IN GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED AREAS OF YEMEN FACE ACUTE FOOD INSECURITY AS HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT SHARPLY DECLINES

ADEN Nearly half of the population (47 percent) in Government-controlled areas of Yemen are facing high levels of acute food insecurity, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis. The analysis shows that around 5 million people are currently experiencing Crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+), including 1.4 million people in Emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4). The outlook is expected to worsen as the year progresses. During the June-September 2026 lean season, an estimated 5.4 million people (51 percent of the population in government-controlled areas) are projected to face acute food insecurity. The number of people in Emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4) is expected to rise to 1.5 million during this period. Even the post-harvest period from October to December 2026 is unlikely to bring meaningful recovery. The number of people in Emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4) is expected to further increase to 1.8 million, underscoring the severity and persistence of the crisis.Persistently weak purchasing power, continued macro-economic deterioration, high agriculture input costs and a sharp decline in humanitarian assistance, as per current levels of confirmed funding, are expected to drive high levels of food insecurity through the end of the year.“The latest IPC findings send a stark warning. Families are being pushed beyond their coping capacity by the combined effects of economic collapse emanating from conflict and civil unrest, climate shocks, disrupted livelihoods and declining humanitarian support,” FAO, WFP and UNICEF said in a joint statement.Households remain highly dependent on markets at a time when purchasing power continues to erode. Irregular salaries, high food and fuel prices, reduced income opportunities and constraints on agricultural production are limiting families’ ability to meet even basic food needs. At the same time, humanitarian food assistance and humanitarian interventions in the areas of nutrition, health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are expected to decline sharply because of critical funding shortfalls, leaving millions without support as needs rise. Food insecurity remains a major driver of Yemen’s high malnutrition burden. Women and children, internally displaced people, and marginalized communities are among those most at risk. Reduced dietary diversity, poor household food consumption, limited access to essential preventive nutrition services, and worsening living conditions are increasing the risk of acute malnutrition, particularly among pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children. Displaced households continue to face severe food consumption gaps and are increasingly relying on negative coping strategies. Marginalized families with limited access to livelihoods and basic services are experiencing deepening hunger and vulnerability. Agriculture and livestock production—critical lifelines for rural families and local food systems—remain under severe pressure from high input costs, climate shocks, pest outbreaks, flood risks and disrupted trade and supply chains. Around 60 percent of Yemeni households rely at least partially on agriculture for their livelihoods, yet growing numbers need emergency agricultural assistance to sustain production, protect assets and prevent further deterioration. FAO, WFP, and UNICEF are calling on the international community to urgently scale up funding for humanitarian food assistance, nutrition services, health, agriculture and resilience programming. Without immediate, sustained and scaled-up action, millions of vulnerable people risk falling deeper into hunger, malnutrition and irreversible livelihood loss.# # #About FAO: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With over 194 members, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @FAOYemen About WFP: The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @WFPYemen About UNICEF: UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.For more information about UNICEF Yemen and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org/yemenFollow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @UNICEF_Yemen For more information please contact:Evani Debone, FAO/Yemen evani.debone@gmail.comAli Qasim, UNICEF/Yemen, aqasimali@unicef.org Cheyenne Curley, WFP/Yemen, cheyenne.curley@wfp.org

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Press Release

14 May 2026

IOM and KSrelief Launch Rehabilitation Works for 12 Schools Across Aden, Lahj, and Ta’iz

Aden, Yemen – 14 May 2026 The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, today marked the handover of construction sites for the rehabilitation and expansion of 12 schools across Aden, Lahj, and Ta’iz governorates. The project is expected to directly benefit over 18,000 students and teachers by improving access to learning in crisis- and displacement-affected communities. The site handover ceremony was held at Qataban School in Mu’ala District, Aden, and attended by representatives of KSrelief, IOM, the Ministry of Education, local authorities, and education offices in Aden and Ta’iz.The humanitarian crisis in Yemen has severely weakened public services and social safety nets since the onset of the conflict. Across the country, nearly 2,800 schools have been destroyed, partially damaged, or used for non-educational purposes, further limiting access to safe education facilities. As a result, more than 4.5 million children are out of school across Yemen, including approximately 760,000 children in Aden, Lahj, and Ta’iz governorates alone.This situation continues to place significant pressure on already overstretched education services in these governorates.Under the project “Supporting the Continuity of Education Services and Recovery of the Education Sector from the Impacts of Crisis and Displacement in Aden, Lahj, and Ta’iz governorates,” funded by KSrelief and implemented by IOM in coordination with relevant authorities, 12 schools across Aden (4), Lahj (3), and Ta’iz (5) are being rehabilitated and expanded.The intervention aims to support the continuity and improvement of education services in crisis- and displacement-affected communities, while helping schools accommodate growing numbers of students among displaced, returnee, and host communities. By expanding school capacity and improving infrastructure, the project seeks to create safer and more supportive learning environments for children affected by years of conflict and instability.Planned works include the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, administrative offices, laboratories, and sanitation facilities, as well as improvements to water, sanitation, and hygiene services in targeted schools. Solar energy systems will also be installed in selected schools to support uninterrupted learning in areas affected by electricity shortages.The project also provides essential school furniture and learning materials to improve classroom functionality. These improvements aim to support more children in returning to stable and functional learning environments.“Education is one of the most critical pathways to recovery for children affected by conflict,” said Abdusattor Esoev, IOM Chief of Mission in Yemen. “By rehabilitating and expanding schools with KSrelief, we are helping restore not just classrooms, but the conditions that allow children to learn with continuity and dignity.”Upon completion, the intervention is expected to directly benefit over 18,000 students and teachers through improved access to education and safer learning environments. The project builds on previous IOM interventions supported by KSrelief that improved access to classrooms and sanitation facilities for more than 17,500 school children across Yemen.The intervention contributes to ongoing efforts by IOM and KSrelief, as part of their long-standing partnership, to restore access to essential services and strengthen resilience in conflict-affected communities across Yemen.For more information, please contact: iomyemenmediacomm@iom.int

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Press Release

26 April 2026

IOM and KSrelief Inaugurate USD 2.25 Million Water Project to Improve Access to Safe Water in Ma’rib, Yemen

Ma’rib, Yemen – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), inaugurated a $2.25 million water supply project, aimed at improving access to safe water for displaced persons and host communities in Ma’rib. The project will benefit about 50,000 people—including displaced families and host communities—in Al Sowayda and surrounding displacement camps: Batha'a Almil, Saylat Almil, Jumailan, Hawsh Aljamea'a Site, as well as Aljufainah displacement camp (Sector 10), and Bin Aboud–Alsiana neighbourhood. Access to safe water remains a critical challenge in Ma’rib, particularly in areas hosting large numbers of displaced families. Recent evictions have resulted in secondary displacement to sites such as Batha'a Almil and Saylat Almil, straining already limited water resources and heightening tensions over access to water. The intervention contributes to reducing water scarcity and mitigating water-related tensions under a “Water for Peace” approach. It also reflects the joint efforts of KSrelief and IOM to support Yemeni authorities in strengthening the transition from humanitarian response to more sustainable, development-oriented solutions. The project includes drilling a new borehole, installing a hybrid pumping system, constructing elevated water storage tanks, and expanding water pipeline networks. It also supports the rehabilitation of existing water systems in Bin Aboud–Alsiana neighbourhood. WASH committees and local authorities will also receive training to strengthen operation and maintenance capacities and ensure sustainable service delivery. “This intervention addresses urgent water needs in one of the most displacement-affected governorates in Yemen,” said Abdusattor Esoev, IOM Chief of Mission in Yemen. “By strengthening water systems in Ma’rib, we are supporting both access to essential services and efforts to reduce tensions linked to scarce resources.” The inauguration ceremony, held at the project site in the Bin Aboud–Alsiana neighborhood, was attended by the Deputy Governor of Ma’rib Dr. Abdurabh Ali Mefath; KSrelief’s Ma'rib Office Manager Abdulrahman Al-Saiari; and representatives from KSrelief, the National Water and Sanitation Authority, the General Authority for Rural Water Supply Projects, the Executive Unit, and the Environmental Office. Representatives from OCHA and the International Committee of the Red Cross were also present. All attending partners and authorities expressed satisfaction with the project and highlighted its importance in improving access to essential services and supporting stability in displacement-affected communities. Implemented in close coordination with the local authorities and partners, the intervention is expected to improve access to safe and clean water, reduce water-related tensions, strengthen local ownership and sustainability, bolster public health and hygiene conditions, and enhance resilience among displaced populations. KSrelief remains a key humanitarian partner in Yemen, supporting interventions across the water, health, shelter, food security, and education sectors. For more information, please contact: iomyemenmediacomm@iom.int

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