New aid grant from the Government of Japan to support the health sector in Yemen

24 February 2026, Aden, Yemen - UNICEF Yemen welcomes new aid from the Government of Japan totaling $611,000 to help address urgent emergency health needs and respond to public health emergencies with the provision of lifesaving health and nutrition services through the Primary health care system and services.

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen remains one of the worst in the world. 11 years of conflict and severe economic decline are exacerbating needs in all sectors delivering basic social services. The Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (2025) estimates that 19.5 million people in Yemen are in need of humanitarian assistance.

The ongoing conflict directly impacts life expectancy, with maternal mortality (MMR) and neonatal mortality (NMR) in Yemen being one of the highest in the region at 118/100,000 live births for MMR and 21/1000 live births[1] for NMR, which accounts for approximately half of all childhood deaths.

“We thank the Government of Japan for providing this support to UNICEF in Yemen. This grant will help UNICEF continue delivering essential health services to the most vulnerable girls, boys and women in the most affected areas in Yemen,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative to Yemen.

Between February 2026 and February 2027, the grant will be used for the delivery of healthcare services through 10 primary care health facilities reaching 13,500 under-5-year-old girls and boys and 5,700 women.

###

[1] (United Nations Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation UNIGME 2024)