Yemen crisis
Yemen is one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises – and children are being robbed of their futures.
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Yemen continues to face multiple crises, including ongoing conflict, economic insecurity, widespread malnutrition, a fragile healthcare system, and recurrent disease outbreaks, all of which compound one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world.
What’s happening? | Crisis snapshot | Impact on children | Latest appeal
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What’s happening in Yemen?
Years of conflict, compounded by an economic crisis, have shattered basic social services and livelihoods, forcing vulnerable children into dire humanitarian conditions. Millions of children lack access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services, and the country continues to experience regular outbreaks of cholera, measles, diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Despite truce-like conditions since April 2022 that have reduced civilian casualties significantly, intermittent fighting and exchanges of fire continue in many areas, with regional conflict dynamics only add to the complexity. While an unprecedented level of humanitarian response has helped protect millions of children, the lack of a comprehensive political solution to the country’s conflict continues to pose major hurdles to protecting the rights of children.
How is the crisis affecting children?
Thousands of children have been killed or maimed since the beginning of the conflict, and thousands more have been recruited into the fighting. Years of conflict, misery and grief have left millions of people in need of mental health and psychosocial services in Yemen.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis has increased the vulnerability of children and women to exploitation, violence and abuse, child labour, killing and maiming, recruitment and use of children by parties to the conflict as combatants and in various support roles, domestic and gender-based violence, child marriage and psychosocial distress.
The damage and closure of schools and hospitals has disrupted access to education and health services. Around 3.2 million children of school age do not attend schools, and those who go to school are forced to cope with overcrowded classrooms and overburdened and unequipped teachers.
What is UNICEF doing to help children in Yemen?
UNICEF is on the ground to save children’s lives, to help them cope with the impact of conflict, and to help them to recover and resume their childhoods. Conflict and violence have pushed more families into poverty and deprivation. UNICEF is helping treat severe acute malnutrition in children by providing essential therapeutic food and medical supplies.
Children are also being helped with victim assistance and education on mines and explosive remnants of war. Meanwhile, UNICEF and partners are rehabilitating damaged schools and establishing safe learning spaces.
Results for children in Yemen
Page updated: 23 April 2025