Publication

UNICEF Yemen: NOURISHING THE FUTURE

01 April 2025

Highlights

This is a report produced by UNICEF Yemen in March 2025 to address the nutrition crisis for vulnerable children in Yemen.

The prolonged conflict in Yemen, economic crisis and collapse of health system is exposing more children to be vulnerable. Today, nearly half of Yemen’s children under the age of five are suffering from Stunting.

Stunting is when height-for-age is more than two standard deviations below the WHO Child Growth Standards median. It is the result of chronic or recurrent undernutrition, usually associated with poverty, poor maternal health and nutrition, frequent illness and/or inappropriate feeding and care in early life.

It is the result of chronic or recurrent undernutrition, usually associated with poverty, poor maternal health and nutrition, frequent illness and/or inappropriate feeding and care in early life. Stunting prevents children from reaching their physical and cognitive potential. Thus, stunted children will have delayed cognitive development with the following symptoms delays in rolling over, sitting up, crawling, and walking, trouble with fine motor skills, problems understanding what others say, trouble with problem-solving, have issues with social skills, problems talking or talking late.

Preventive nutrition efforts need to be enhanced – to stop malnutrition before it starts. Gaps include the need for improved counselling on infant and young child feeding practices, better promotion of breastfeeding, and increased coverage of Vitamin A and deworming. Additionally, many women and children lack access to health care, highlighting the need for strengthened outreach and community-based services. Increased funding for preventative nutrition actions and long-term commitment are key to ensure the sustainability of these actions.