1.43 million vulnerable families supported with cash assistance across Yemen

Sana’a, 02 October 2024 – More than 1.43 million families received cash assistance as part of the ongoing Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) programme implemented across Yemen. The cash transfer is expected to support the livelihoods of families in dire need of assistance amid a decade of conflict that has devasted the nation’s economy and shattered social services.

Funded by the World Bank and implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Social Fund for Development (SFD), approximately US$ 62.5 million will be disbursed in the current payment cycle through mid-October to provide a safety net for around 9.2 million people from over 1.43 million families, considered some of the poorest and the most vulnerable, including households headed by females or with people with disabilities.

The assistance provided at payment sites, through mobile teams and home outreach services, or as part of the e-wallet pilot scheme, is often the only source of income for many families. Together with a further distribution in December, the Cash Transfer is expected to fulfill their most immediate and urgent needs such as food and healthcare costs, as well as paying back debts related to purchasing food and covering medical costs.

“The cash assistance is a critical lifeline for millions of vulnerable people requiring urgent support. We hope this cash injection directly into the households will meet the most urgent needs for all the family,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative to Yemen.

The current 18^th payment cycle is the first nationwide unconditional cash transfer in Yemen this year. Households will collect their base benefit with an additional 50 per cent.

In Yemen, more than 80 per cent of the population lives in poverty. The weak economy has resulted in inflation, making it hard for millions of families to afford necessities, including food, fuel, and water. The ongoing cholera outbreak and recent flooding in some parts of the country have added further challenges to those people already in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

Since 2015, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) has contracted by over 50 per cent, and the economic setback has slashed household incomes and resulted in food insecurity, malnutrition, as well as poor access to health, water, protection, and education services.

To sustain the lives of the most vulnerable families, UNICEF has been providing cash assistance under the UCT programme since 2017.

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