Japan grants $1 million to support UNICEF’s nutrition and WASH interventions in Yemen

Sana’a, 12 February 2023 – The Government of Japan has provided US$ 1 million to support UNICEF humanitarian response in Yemen. Thanks to this grant, at close to 80,000 Yemenis – including more than 40,000 girls and boys - will benefit from lifesaving nutrition and WASH interventions.

“Today in Yemen there are more than 2.2 million children suffering from a form of malnutrition including more than 500 thousand children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Also, 15.3 million people – more than half of them are children - don’t have adequate access water, hygiene and sanitation services. Thanks to this contribution from the people and Government of Japan, UNICEF will be able to address some of dire needs of these vulnerable people”, says Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative to Yemen.

Between now and January 2024, the grant will be used to deliver lifesaving nutrition, water and sanitation services in 8 governorates: Amran, Hajjah, Sana’a, Al Dhale'e, Hudaidah, Taiz, Saa’da, and Marib.

Since 2017, Japan has contributed US$ 9.8 million to UNICEF Yemen to address urgent humanitarian needs through Supplementary Budget support. This contribution comes as a boost to the response of UNICEF and its partners to the humanitarian crisis that Yemen is currently facing.

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen remains one of the worst in the world. Nearly eight years of conflict and severe economic decline are driving the country to the brink of famine and exacerbating needs in all sectors. Currently, 21.6 million people need humanitarian assistance in Yemen, including 11 million children.

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