Yemen Appeal

Yemen is facing a deepening crisis marked by protracted conflict, economic collapse and climate-related shocks, prompting significant humanitarian needs. Today, approximately 19.7 million people, including 15 million women and children, require humanitarian assistance. Forty-nine per cent of the population faces severe food insecurity. The nutrition situation is projected to deteriorate, with 18.1 million people expected to face crisis levels of food insecurity (IPC phase 3 or greater) by early 2026. Forty per cent of Yemen's health facilities are only partially functioning or completely out-of-service due to shortages in staff, funding, electricity, medicines and equipment and due to infrastructure integrity problems, leaving millions of people without adequate care.

Malnutrition rates are alarming, with 17 per cent of children experiencing wasting, 49 per cent of children suffering from stunted growth and 41 per cent of children underweight – some of the highest rates in the Middle East and North Africa region. Globally, Yemen is one of the countries most contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war, underscoring the persistent threat posed by landmines and explosive remnants of war,   which for children means injury, disability or death. 

Around 3.2 million children are out of school. Forty-three per cent of displaced children lack birth certificates. Additionally, there are more than 5 million people with disabilities in Yemen 21 per cent of whom are children. Socioeconomic conditions in Yemen have deteriorated since 2023–2024 due to declining remittances coupled with trade disruptions, fuel shortages, high inflation, the banking sector crisis and reduced humanitarian aid. As a result, fragility persists, and the risks posed by Yemen's overlapping crises have worsened. Projections indicate that at least 74 per cent of Yemen’s population now lives in extreme poverty.

By late 2025, the ongoing cholera pandemic in Yemen had affected 98 per cent of the country. As of December 2025, the cumulative number of suspected cholera cases had reached 93,496, resulting in 248 deaths across all governorates. Although the outbreak figures are lower than in 2024 (when more than 253,000 suspected cases and 670 associated deaths were reported), it necessitated a multisectoral, inter-agency response. 

Heavy rains that led to flash floods in August 2025 overwhelmed drainage systems, destroyed homes, caused widespread damage to agricultural lands and infrastructure and cut off key supply routes, leaving approximately 474,000 people exposed to the elements and at risk of malnutrition and disease, as of October 2025.

Conflict and insecurity escalated in the last quarter of 2025, impacting operations in northwestern regions of Yemen and resulting in intense negotiations for the release of United Nations personnel who are arbitrarily detained. Coupled with donor funding cuts, this will significantly strain ongoing humanitarian assistance plans for vulnerable people, especially children.

The UNICEF humanitarian strategy in Yemen, and this appeal, are aligned with inter-agency planning processes, under the humanitarian reset and localization principles, and is in keeping with the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action. The UNICEF strategy focuses primarily on life-saving interventions: UNICEF will address the most urgent needs of highly vulnerable people through life-saving, protective and multisectoral interventions, working with key stakeholders, including government and local partners. 

Given the significant breakdown of essential public services in Yemen, UNICEF is focused on delivering continuous health and nutrition interventions for the most vulnerable children, and in particular on treating severe wasting. This includes implementing community-based interventions tailored to internally displaced individuals and children with disabilities – and enhancing access to high-impact preventive and curative services. A key goal is building resilience within communities and in health and nutrition facilities. 

UNICEF’s multisectoral response to public health emergencies – especially cholera – integrates WASH, health and nutrition interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality. The WASH strategy focuses on cholera hotspots and underserved areas to ensure affected and displaced populations have access to essential WASH services. UNICEF will also support targeted rehabilitation of critical WASH systems in the most vulnerable communities and healthcare facilities to strengthen outbreak prevention and service continuity. These interventions are vital to prevent outbreaks of cholera and other waterborne diseases and to ensure the survival – and dignity – of children and their families. 

To tackle the multifaceted challenges children are facing, UNICEF will work to enhance resilience through emergency education, life-skills training and psychosocial support in community settings, within educational institutions and at healthcare facilities. Another important element of UNICEF's work is to reduce injuries from landmines and explosive remnants of war through strategic campaigns and crucial protection services for children. 

UNICEF will mobilize community volunteers and networks to promote good practices related to preventing the spread of waterborne diseases, promotion of maternal-child health, mitigation of gender-based violence, disability-inclusive services and increasing the uptake of essential services.

To address security and operational challenges, the UNICEF country office in Yemen has developed a comprehensive preparedness plan to mitigate risks, protect gains and ensure rapid response should conditions worsen. This is aligned with the regional escalation framework. Currently, UNICEF is implementing a lean, district-focused, multisectoral model, prioritizing areas with high Country Contextual Deprivation Index scores and elevated risks in nutrition, health, WASH and protection, emphasizing anticipatory action and strong subnational coordination.