WHO Yemen: A year of lifesaving impact: OCHA funding strengthens health services for thousands in Yemen

Aden, Yemen 

Thousands of people in Yemen’s conflict-affected districts are gaining access to essential health services thanks to support from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) through the Yemen Humanitarian Fund (YHF).

In Lawdar (Abyan), Al Bayda City, Al Husha and Far' Al Udayn districts, OCHA-funded projects implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO) have strengthened access to emergency and trauma care, care for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), communicable disease response and maternal and child health services, allowing vulnerable communities to access lifesaving health services closer to where they live.

Designed to address critical health needs in areas heavily affected by conflict and limited access to health care, the projects have targeted more than 42 000 people, including internally displaced persons, women, children and people living with chronic illnesses.

Strengthening emergency and trauma care

For people injured during conflicts or as a result of accidents, timely surgical care can mean the difference between life and death.

With OCHA's support, WHO deployed and supported surgical teams in Al Bayda, Far' Al Udayn and Lawdar. Between August 2025 and February 2026, these teams conducted 864 surgical operations, well above the original target of 462 lifesaving procedures.

At Al-Thawrah Hospital in Al Bayda, surgical teams performed 461 operations. At Al-Mazhan Hospital in Far' Al Udayn they performed 173 operations, while 230 operations were completed at Mahnf Hospital in Lawdar.

In addition, the provision of essential emergency and trauma medicines and medical supplies to key health facilities has helped frontline health workers provide lifesaving treatment to patients in need.

Enhancing outbreak detection and disease response

Yemen continues to face recurrent outbreaks of cholera, measles and other communicable diseases. To strengthen preparedness and response capacities, WHO supplied essential communicable disease medicines, oral rehydration salts, intravenous fluids and rapid response team (RRT) kits to 4 health facilities serving high-risk communities, and supported 207 RRT field missions, surpassing the original target of 166.

The deployments enabled health teams to investigate suspected outbreaks, conduct disease surveillance, trace contacts and support timely containment measures during cholera and measles outbreaks.

By strengthening disease detection and response systems, the interventions reduced the risk of wider transmission among vulnerable populations.

Protecting mothers and children

Maternal and child health services are among Yemen’s most pressing health care needs. Through support to Al-Thawrah General Hospital in Al Bayda and Al-Mazhan Rural Hospital in Far' Al Udayn, WHO provided essential medicines, medical supplies and operational support to sustain maternal and child health care services. As a result, health facilities were able to perform:

• 14 316 gynaecological and obstetric consultations;
• 4652 antenatal care consultations;
• 12 081 paediatric consultations; and
• 2693 skilled birth-attended deliveries, including normal deliveries and caesarean sections.

No maternal deaths were recorded in the supported facilities during the reporting period.

For thousands of women and children, these services have helped ensure safer pregnancies, safer births and improved access to quality health care.

Supporting people living with chronic diseases

For patients living with diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and other chronic conditions, interruptions in treatment can have serious consequences. To avoid this, WHO procured and distributed essential medicines for noncommunicable diseases to 4 targeted health facilities across Al Bayda, Al Husha, Far' Al Udayn and Lawdar.

The intervention enabled 5233 people to access essential NCD treatment and helped health facilities maintain uninterrupted chronic disease services, reducing the risk of complications and preventable illness.

A partnership that saves lives

The interventions demonstrate how targeted humanitarian investments can strengthen health services and save lives in some of Yemen's most vulnerable communities.

"At a time when millions of people in Yemen continue to face immense health challenges, the support provided by OCHA through the Yemen Humanitarian Fund has been instrumental in ensuring that vulnerable communities can access lifesaving health services," said WHO Representative and Head of Mission in Yemen Dr Syed Jaffar Hussain.

"Through this partnership, WHO has been able to strengthen emergency and trauma care, support outbreak response, sustain maternal and child health services and ensure continuity of care for people living with chronic diseases. We sincerely thank OCHA and the Yemen Humanitarian Fund for their commitment to protecting health and saving lives across Yemen."

As humanitarian needs continue to grow, sustained support from humanitarian partners is essential to ensure that vulnerable communities across Yemen can access the health care services they urgently need.