Yemen is the location of one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world, according to the United Nations. Seven years of ongoing conflict have created a sustained economic crisis and severely damaged the country’s water infrastructure and public health system. The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed the delivery of humanitarian assistance and only further strained health care across the country. Yemen’s most impoverished people, most of whom are women, children, and elderly—who have been displaced from their homes by conflict more than once—are the most severely affected.
More than 24 million Yemenis need assistance, and there have been over 14,000 civilian casualties since recording by the Civilian Impact Monitoring project started in 2017. Lack of access to clean water and decent sanitation has created a severe risk of cholera, which has affected millions of people. People are one step away from famine in some areas of the country. Overall, there are 17 million people currently severely hungry in Yemen—and that number could increase to 19 million by the end of 2022, according to the UN. The high price of fuel in Yemen is also partly responsible for rising prices for nearly everything, including food. The conflict in Ukraine is making the crisis even worse: Yemen imports 42 percent of its grain from Ukraine.
With local partners, Oxfam is fighting inequality by responding to both the immediate and long-term needs of people in Yemen. We’re improving access to clean water and sanitation, providing cash to help people buy daily essentials, and disseminating information about how to avoid cholera and COVID-19. We’re also helping people start businesses and support themselves, working with allies to advocate for an inclusive and sustainable peace, and working with Yemeni partners to reduce violence against women and other vulnerable people.
What challenges are people in Yemen facing?
2.3 million
Number of children in Yemen under age 5 that require treatment for acute malnutrition
80%
Percentage of Yemen’s 30 million people that need humanitarian assistance
2.5 million
Suspected cholera cases between 2017 and 2021