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