IOM Resumes Health Services at Ras Alara’a Amid Ongoing Funding Gaps

Aden, Yemen – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), with funding from UK Aid from the UK government, has launched a new health intervention to restore and expand healthcare services for migrants and crisis-affected communities in Yemen. As part of a multi-year project, this initiative resumes IOM’s health services at the Ras Alara’a facility in Lahj Governorate – a key transit point on Yemen’s migration route – following its withdrawal in 2019 due to funding cuts.

“The reopening of Ras Alara’a reaffirms our commitment to ensuring no one is left behind, regardless of their circumstances,” said Abdusattor Esoev, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Yemen. “Every person deserves the right to access healthcare, and through this initiative, we are turning that right into a reality for thousands of vulnerable individuals across Yemen. Despite financial constraints, we remain steadfast in our efforts and encourage other donors to continue investing in Yemen to support those most in need.”

Ras Alara’a, a vital hub on Yemen’s migration route, has faced overwhelming demand for healthcare. In 2019, funding shortages forced IOM to suspend support, leaving a critical gap in health services. However, IOM continued providing care through a mobile medical team, reaching close to 2,500 migrants last year. 

With the latest support, IOM is now working to fully restore operations by rehabilitating the facility, supplying essential medicines, training healthcare workers, reinstating emergency and primary care services, and strengthening referral pathways for migrants and host communities.

This local intervention comes at a time when Yemen’s broader healthcare system is under immense strain. In 2025, nearly 19.7 million people across the country are projected to require health assistance, yet 40 per cent of health facilities remain only partially functional or completely out of service. 

The continuous arrival of migrants adds further pressure to an already fragile system, amplifying the challenges faced by both displaced people and host communities. In 2024 alone, IOM recorded the arrival of over 60,000 migrants, many seeking safety and better opportunities. 

Their journeys are often fraught with danger, from drowning in capsized boats and suffering violence-related injuries to battling psychological distress and diseases like cholera, acute watery diarrhea, tuberculosis, malaria, and dengue fever, along with dehydration and malnutrition. Once in Yemen, migrants continue to face harsh conditions, including gender-based violence, arbitrary arrests, and limited access to essential health services.

Beyond immediate support, the project will enhance health infrastructure and mobile medical teams in key areas of Yemen, including Aden, Shabwah, Al Bayda, Sana’a, and Ma’rib. These efforts aim to promote long-term, rights-based migration governance by building the capacity of local and regional stakeholders.

The comprehensive services provided through this initiative will cover outpatient consultations for communicable and non-communicable diseases, child health services, reproductive healthcare, health promotion activities, and integrated mental health and psychosocial support. 

To implement these services effectively across the country, IOM will work closely with the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP) and other key health actors to strengthen the national healthcare system and ensure sustainable service delivery. Through partnerships with local and regional authorities, as well as civil society organizations, IOM aims to enhance migrant governance and build resilient public healthcare systems that uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals, regardless of their migration status. 

For more information, please contact:

Monica Chiriac, Media and Communications Officer: mchiriac@iom.int  
IOM Yemen’s Communications Team: iomyemenmediacomm@iom.int