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 crisis: What you need to know
What’s happening in Yemen?
Yemen remains one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, with around 23.4 million people in need of assistance, including almost 13 million children.
After eight years of conflict, the national socioeconomic systems of Yemen remain on the edge of total collapse, while conflict, large-scale displacement and recurring climate shocks have left families vulnerable to communicable diseases outbreaks. By late 2022, more than 17.8 million people, including 9.2 million children, lacked access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services. The country continues to experience regular outbreaks of cholera, measles, diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Read UNICEF’s 2023 humanitarian appeal for Yemen here.
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. 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. More than 8.8 million children need protection services.
The damage and closure of schools and hospitals has also disrupted access to education and health services. More than 2 million children are out of school, leaving them even more vulnerable. Meanwhile, Yemen’s already dire hunger crisis is teetering on the edge of outright catastrophe. By late 2022, around 2.2 million children under 5 years of age were experiencing wasting, including more than 500,000 children suffering from severe wasting.
In April 2022, Sana’a authorities signed an Action Plan with the United Nations to protect children and prevent grave violations against them in the context of the armed conflict in Yemen. In August 2022, UNICEF welcomed the announcement that the parties to the conflict in Yemen had agreed to the United Nations’ proposal to renew the truce for an additional two months.
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. Read more about UNICEF’s work and results in the country, and how you can help.
Check here for the most up to date statistics on the situation in Yemen.
Yemen crisis snapshot
What UNICEF is doing in Yemen
UNICEF is on the ground across Yemen 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.
As part of its response to the coronavirus pandemic, UNICEF has shipped crucial personal protective equipment needed by frontline workers, has delivered COVID vaccines through the COVAX Facility, and has continued to provide risk communication and community engagement activities.
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.
Read UNICEF’s 2023 Humanitarian Action for Children Yemen appeal