Fighting in Yemen, already one of the poorest countries in the Middle East, has severely compounded needs arising from long years of poverty and insecurity. The worsening violence has disrupted millions of lives, resulting in widespread casualties and massive displacement, and the situation is rapidly deteriorating.
Civilians bear the brunt of the crisis, with an estimated 80% of the population – 24.1 million people – now in need of humanitarian assistance. Those forced to flee their homes are especially at risk. On top of that, Yemen is frequently hit by torrential rains which may exacerbate the risks of infectious diseases like cholera, especially in crowded refugee camps, yet only 51% of Yemen’s health facilities are fully functional. Yemenis are in urgent need of improved public health services.
However, Yemen’s conditions are often forgotten, support for the humanitarian response is only 5% funded. Yemen needs our urgent support. More awareness and attention is needed. Without help, many more lives will be lost to violence, treatable illnesses or lack of food, water and shelter.
What is UNHCR doing to help?
We provide life-saving aid to displaced Yemenis, as well as to refugees and asylum-seekers, across the country.
Under the humanitarian coordination system in Yemen, we lead in the provision of protection, shelter and non-food items. We provide emergency shelter, mattresses, blankets, sleeping mats, kitchen sets, buckets and more to help those displaced and most vulnerable. Our assistance has reached people in need in all 20 governorates affected by the conflict.
Our shelter kits help families repair homes damaged in the conflict, and we refurbish public buildings and settlements that now host displaced families. We support health facilities that serve refugees, asylum-seekers and Yemenis affected by violence, and we work to prevent and control the spread of cholera, which has arisen as a result of the conflict.
We provide legal and financial assistance as well as psycho-social support services to help those affected by the war.
We also continue to protect and support more than 280,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, mainly from the Horn of Africa, who remain in Yemen despite the conflict and are particularly at risk.
Send urgent relief to Yemeni families in desperate need
You can save lives now and help Yemeni families access food, rent and medicine while they are displaced.
Act now to provide a lifeline to Yemeni refugees.