Global aid cuts putting millions of lives at risk in Yemen

Lifesaving support for people in Yemen, one of the world’s hungriest countries, are at risk as drastic global aid cuts take hold. 

22.3 million people in Yemen, of a population of 35 million, are in need of humanitarian assistance. However, due to funding restrictions humanitarian organizations are having to focus on the most desperate cases, leaving millions of people without essential support.

In Yemen, half of the population is facing hunger and almost two-thirds of households are now unable to meet their minimum food needs. Reduced funding has resulted in a reduction of nutrition services by up to 63%. Over 450 health facilities, including 76 hospitals, have closed in the last year.

Concern Worldwide is working in two of the most severely impacted regions in Yemen to support people, particularly women and children under-five, in the areas of health and nutrition. It is the only Irish humanitarian organization operating in Yemen.

“Conditions for people in Yemen are deteriorating year after year, and the impact of global funding cuts has been particularly severe in Yemen, forcing many humanitarian organizations to scale back or suspend critical services at a time when needs are rapidly escalating. Health, nutrition, protection, water, and sanitation services are among the hardest hit,” said Victor Moses, Concern country director for Yemen.

“These cuts are exacerbating the suffering of already incredibly vulnerable populations, leading to irreversible humanitarian impacts and setting back hard-won gains in recent years. This continued funding from our donors and supporters could not come at a better time and means we’re able to continue supporting people with essential health and nutrition services.”

Over a decade of conflict in Yemen has forced millions of people from their homes. Added to this is a worsening economic crisis, and growing intensity and frequency of climate disasters such as floods and sandstorms.

Yemen continues to experience large-scale outbreaks of cholera, measles, dengue, and polio, while facing fuel shortages and medicine stockouts, due to humanitarian aid funding cuts further undermining services. 

Concern, alongside local partners, are working in the west and south of the country, to address critical gaps and chronic health and nutrition needs. There are areas where Concern is working where Global Acute Malnutrition is over 30% – one of the factors considered an indicator of famine.

Reaching over 40,000 people, Concern projects are providing critical health and nutrition services across 13 health facilities with support for health workers incentives, routine operations, lifesaving medicines, and nutrition and health services for children and women. Concern works with a network of community health volunteers to provide nutrition counseling, health and hygiene promotion, and immunizations.

This support makes a real difference to people’s lives in Yemen. Basam* was just 10 months old when he arrived, acutely malnourished and less than half the weight of a healthy baby boy his age, at one of the health centers supported by Concern in a camp for people displaced by the conflict. As a result of being acutely malnourished he suffered from fever, anemia, pneumonia, and shortness of breath and seemed to be in pain. He did not play, laugh, was lethargic and sleepy. 

His mother, Haj*, said she was often only able to cook one meal a day, as the price of food has increased, food assistance has been suspended due to funding cuts, and her husband is a daily laborer who does not have regular work. They often skip meals so their children can eat. 

At the clinic Basam received antibiotics and Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), along with routine health checks, vaccinations and continuous nutrition counseling. Nine months later he is a healthy little toddler, showing steady growth. 

Concern has been in Yemen since 2023, working with people living in conditions of extreme poverty to achieve sustainable improvements in their lives by providing equitable access to basic services, saving lives through timely and effective emergency response, and promoting economic empowerment to protect and develop livelihoods, support recovery, and build long-term resilience.

*Names have been changed to protect privacy

🗣️ For media inquires or to speak to a member of our team about this response, please connect with Candance Patel-Taylor at [email protected].