Concern Worldwide is now operating in Yemen in response to spiraling food insecurity and emergency levels of malnutrition among children.
Over 18 million people – 55 percent of the country’s population – are in need of humanitarian assistance, with one analysis showing a 12 percent rise in acute food insecurity in parts of the country during the five months up to February this year (compared to a previous analysis done in mid-2023).
“Nine years of conflict have taken a severe toll on the lives of ordinary people, especially the 4.5 million who have been forced to flee their homes and are currently living in temporary camps,” Concern Worldwide’s Country Director in Yemen, Victor Moses, said. “The key essentials of food, clean water, sanitation, health and nutrition, are all desperately needed.”
Concern Worldwide began operating in Yemen in December 2023. The team is focusing initially on supporting health clinics and water and sanitation facilities.
A recent assessment by the humanitarian community showed that acute malnutrition rates among children in the Lahij Governate in southern Yemen, where Concern is working, have significantly increased.
“We are supporting six health clinics in Tuban and Al-Milah districts, which are providing health and nutrition services, and routine vaccination for children under one year to prevent outbreaks of measles, polio, and other vaccine preventable diseases,” Moses said. There have been reported cases of measles and cholera outbreaks across the country which pose a major health threat, given the inadequate sanitation facilities and the weakened immune systems of local communities.
Where We Work
Nearly a decade of war and conflict has escalated civilian suffering, forcing people into unsustainable living conditions largely dependent on humanitarian intervention. Concern launched an official program in Yemen in 2024, designed to meet the most urgent needs of the most vulnerable people.
Read MoreWhere We Work
Nearly a decade of war and conflict has escalated civilian suffering, forcing people into unsustainable living conditions largely dependent on humanitarian intervention. Concern launched an official program in Yemen in 2024, designed to meet the most urgent needs of the most vulnerable people.
Read MoreThe lack of water and proper sanitation facilities in the displacement camps is a major issue which Concern is addressing. 34 latrines will be built in the coming weeks and a borehole is being rehabilitated and will be fitted with a solar pump supporting 4,550 displaced people living in the camps.
In a bid to halt the spread of cholera and other diseases, Concern has distributed hygiene kits in the camps which include jerry cans and buckets to carry water, soap, washing powder, and water purification tablets. Concern has also trained community health volunteers who are working in displacement camps and neighboring communities to conduct nutrition screenings and health and hygiene awareness sessions to improve health seeking behaviors.
The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen was only 39.3 percent funded. This concerning trend continues with only 9.1 percent of the 2024 Plan funded so far this year.
“It is imperative that Yemen is supported with increased funding to prevent the already dire conditions for those most in need, becoming even worse,” Moses said.
Yemen is currently one of the hungriest countries in the world. It was ranked 123 out of 125 countries assessed in the 2023 Global Hunger Index.
The commencement of operations in Yemen brings the number of countries that Concern Worldwide is currently working in to 26.
“The scale of the humanitarian need in Yemen is daunting,” Concern Global Chief Executive Officer David Regan said. “But our team have been able to get up and running quickly and are making an impact on the ground. This lifesaving work is made possible by donations from the general public."
