Press Release

OCHA Yemen: The humanitarian community appeals to donors to help millions in need in Yemen

01 February 2024

1 February 2024

The United Nations and its partners released the 2024 Yemen Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) and Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) today to reach millions of people with lifesaving assistance and protection services.

Given the critical needs, 219 humanitarian partners are appealing for urgent support for over 18.2 million women, girls, boys and men.

“The HNO and the HRP give voice to civilians in Yemen, who have faced tremendous suffering daily for more than nine years due to conflict, economic deterioration, severely disrupted public infrastructure and services, as well as climate change,” said Peter Hawkins, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, a.i. “They demonstrate our collective and coordinated efforts to save lives, reduce risks and support resilience.”

The Humanitarian Response Plan for 2024 requires $2.7 billion for a strengthened, targeted, prioritized, risk-informed and bottom-up approach to programming in Yemen. The plan is based on robust consultations across the country with affected people, authorities and institutions, humanitarian actors, and development partners at both local and national levels. It also reflects the way the humanitarian community will adapt its response in view of limited funding and access constraints.

“Yemen is facing a critical juncture and has a unique opportunity to take a decisive step away from the humanitarian crisis by addressing the drivers of need,” Mr. Hawkins said. “While regional conflict dynamics have introduced additional risks, the humanitarian community remains committed to stay and deliver.”

The Plan emphasizes the collaboration with development partners to support livelihoods, basic services, and economic conditions to build long-term solutions, as outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for Yemen 2022-2025.

“We must not turn our backs on the people of Yemen. I am appealing to donors for their continued and urgent support to save lives, build resilience, and also to fund sustainable interventions,” Mr. Hawkins urged.

After more than nine years of conflict, 18.2 million people in Yemen require support. 17.6 million people are estimated to face acute food insecurity in 2024. In 2023, child mortality slightly improved following years of sustained humanitarian assistance. However, Yemen is experiencing some of the highest malnutrition rates ever recorded—with nearly half of all children under five years experiencing moderate to severe stunting—and the situation continues to worsen. An estimated 6.7 million people are living in inadequate shelters. Limited access to critical services continues to worsen the conditions for the most vulnerable groups, including women and children. 12.4 million people lack sufficient access to safe drinking water, increasing the risk of infectious diseases, while more than 4.5 million children of school age (5 to 17 years) do not attend schools. An estimated 4.5 million people are currently displaced in Yemen, one-third of whom have been displaced more than once, eroding their coping capacity. The 2024 HRP requires $2.7 billion for live-saving assistance and protection services. The UNSDCF requires $1.3 billion to support millions with sustainable development programming.

For more details, access the 2024 Humanitarian Needs Overview and 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan.