Severe Food Insecurity and Economic Collapse Trigger Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen

Yemen faces one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with over 18.2 million people—more than half the population—requiring humanitarian assistance and protection services. The crisis is driven by a decade-long conflict, economic collapse, and severe access constraints that have devastated infrastructure and displaced millions. Nearly five million people remain internally displaced, while close to 20 million depend on aid to survive. Women and girls bear a disproportionate impact, with sexual and reproductive health services and protection from gender-based violence remaining under acute strain due to funding shortfalls and restricted humanitarian operations, particularly in the north. The humanitarian response has been severely undermined by inadequate funding. In 2025, UNFPA appealed for $70 million to sustain critical support for women and girls but received only $25.5 million, leaving a $44.5 million funding gap that forced the scale-back of nearly 40 percent of supported services, leaving close to two million women and girls without access to essential care. Warring parties, especially the Houthis, continue to obstruct humanitarian aid and block information, exacerbating disease outbreaks; a cholera outbreak spread across the country with 258 deaths among 95,000 suspected cases. Additionally, 9.8 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance, with over 4,000 children recruited and deployed in combat by various warring parties.