UNICEF in Yemen
Despite difficult and often dangerous conditions, UNICEF remains on the ground in Yemen, as it has since civil conflict began in 2015, delivering safe water, nutrition, education and protection to children and families and collaborating closely with partners to meet urgent needs.
War in Yemen leaves children caught in overlapping crises
Yemen is considered one of the world's worst protracted humanitarian crises as children and families continue to suffer severe impacts of a war that began in 2015.
Over a decade of largely unrelenting conflict, with only brief and fragile periods of reduced hostilities, "has stolen childhoods, shattered futures, and left an entire generation fighting to survive," says UNICEF Yemen Representative Peter Hawkins.
Roughly 20 million people, including nearly 11 million children, require humanitarian assistance.
Millions of people have been driven from their homes by violence, and there is widespread food insecurity. Trade disruptions, high inflation, a banking crisis and reduced humanitarian aid have all deepened the deprivations and struggles of the country's vulnerable population.
Acute food insecurity and malnutrition is widespread. Around half a million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM), which is fatal without treatment. Those who survive the condition face lifelong consequences in the form of impaired cognitive development, chronic disease and lost economic potential.
"In Yemen, [malnutrition] it is not just a health crisis, it is a death sentence for thousands," Hawkins says.
Outbreaks of cholera, measles, diphtheria and other vaccine-preventable diseases are common, while only about half of all health facilities are functional, leaving over half of the country's population — an estimated 17.8 million people — without adequate access to health care services.
The relentless conflict has led to a collapse of Yemen's education system, jeopardizing children's futures. More than 3.2 million children aged 5 to 17 are out of school, including some 1.2 million primary school students.
Education is often interrupted for displaced children, heightening their risks of dropping out. Those who are able to attend school often struggle in overcrowded classrooms with overburdened, under-resourced teachers. Thousands of Yemen's schools have been destroyed or damaged, further undermining the quality of education.
Economic hardship compounds the problem, forcing families to turn to child labor and early marriage as ways to cope. UNICEF estimates there are 7.4 million children in Yemen in urgent need of protection from violence, exploitation and abuse, including gender-based violence and recruitment by armed groups.
UNICEF's humanitarian strategy in Yemen focuses on delivering direct, lifesaving, multi-sectoral assistance and strengthening systems to shore up vital services.
UNICEF response in Yemen tackles malnutrition, protection risks and more
UNICEF has been on the ground in Yemen since civil conflict began in March 2015, leading the way to provide water, nutrition, education and protection to children and families in close collaboration with partners.
Millions of children and families depend directly on UNICEF for water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and support. UNICEF- and partner-supported interventions help millions of people in Yemen access safe drinking water.
UNICEF also supports hospitals, mobile health teams and community health workers to enable the delivery of critical services, including routine immunizations and nutrition support, including vitamin A supplementation. UNICEF's support for primary health care facilities helps ensure millions of women and children can access essential health and nutrition services.
A major priority for UNICEF's emergency response in the country is screening children for malnutrition, a lifesaving intervention that is reaching millions of children annually. Children diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition are admitted to therapeutic feeding programs, both outpatient and inpatient.
Related: What is RUTF? Therapeutic Food Saving Children's Lives
Globally, Yemen is one of the countries most contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war, a persistent threat that for children often means injury, disability or death. To mitigate their risks, UNICEF supports awareness raising and education programs that teach kids how to stay safe.
UNICEF also works to strengthen the protective environment for all children and youth through advocacy, policy refinement, legislative reforms and development of national capacity to monitor, analyze and report violations of child rights.
Hundreds of thousands of children and caregivers in conflict-affected areas are reached with psychosocial support with UNICEF's help every year. Hundreds of thousands of women and children are reached with gender-based violence risk mitigation, prevention or response interventions annually. A case management program provides referrals to critical services including survivor assistance, individual counseling, family tracing and reunification.
In education, UNICEF helps children get back to learning in both formal and non-formal settings, provides students with learning supplies and supports teacher training, among other capacity building measures.
UNICEF: Children in Yemen need peace
UNICEF continues to call on all parties to the conflict in Yemen to allow unimpeded humanitarian access to allow the delivery of aid, for the release of detained UN staff and other humanitarian workers, and for an end to the conflict.
“Yemen’s children cannot wait another decade," Hawkins says. "They need peace. They need justice. But above all, they need us to act — now. Let us not fail them.”
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to create a more equitable world for children.
Frequently asked questions
What's going on in Yemen?
Yemen has endured more than a decade of conflict, economic collapse and repeated disease outbreaks. As a result, nearly 20 million people — including almost 11 million children — need humanitarian assistance. Children face overlapping risks, including malnutrition, lack of access to health care and education, and increased exposure to violence and exploitation.
How many children are affected by malnutrition in Yemen?
UNICEF estimates that around half a million children in Yemen are at risk of severe acute malnutrition (SAM), a life-threatening condition that requires urgent treatment. Without care, SAM can be fatal, and even children who survive can face long-term health and developmental challenges.
Why are so many children out of school in Yemen?
Years of conflict have damaged or destroyed thousands of schools and displaced millions of families, leaving 3.2 million children out of school; many who do attend face overcrowded classrooms and limited resources. UNICEF- and partner-supported programs are helping to improve education quality and learning environments for the most vulnerable children.
How is UNICEF helping children in Yemen?
UNICEF provides treatment for child malnutrition, improves access to health care services including immunization, helps families access safe water and provides psychosocial support and protection services. UNICEF also helps children return to learning with supplies and teacher support.