The United Nations and its partners have raised alarms about the exacerbating risks in Yemen due to ongoing regional conflicts, endangering the lives of over 17 million people facing acute food insecurity this year.
The escalating tensions in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are highlighted as significant contributors to the deteriorating situation in Yemen.
The global body has called for urgent funding, requiring $2.7 billion to support its humanitarian response plan and an additional $1.3 billion for sustainable development programs. T
he UN’s Humanitarian Needs Overview and Response Plan for Yemen in 2024 aims to reach millions in need of aid and protection amidst the nation’s most critical challenges.
Peter Hawkins, the UN’s Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, emphasized the collective and coordinated efforts needed to save lives, mitigate risks, and bolster resilience.
The humanitarian response plan, based on extensive consultations across Yemen with affected individuals, authorities, and humanitarian and development partners, seeks $2.7 billion to enhance and prioritize humanitarian efforts through a risk-aware, bottom-up approach.
Despite the limited funding and access constraints, the humanitarian community remains committed to staying and delivering services in Yemen, facing a critical juncture with a unique opportunity to move away from the humanitarian crisis by addressing its underlying causes.
Hawkins acknowledged the additional risks posed by regional conflict dynamics but reassured the community’s dedication to supporting the Yemeni people.
The UN plan also emphasizes collaboration with development partners to support livelihoods, essential services, and economic conditions for long-term solutions.
Hawkins called on international donors not to turn their backs on the Yemeni people, urging continued support for urgent life-saving efforts, resilience building, and funding sustainable interventions.
After more than nine years of conflict, 18.2 million Yemenis need support, with 17.6 million expected to face severe food insecurity this year.
While humanitarian aid has slightly improved child mortality rates, Yemen still faces some of the highest malnutrition rates globally, with nearly half of the children under five suffering from moderate to severe malnutrition.
The humanitarian situation continues to worsen, with an estimated 6.7 million people living in inadequate shelters and limited access to vital services, exacerbating conditions for vulnerable groups, especially women and children. About 12.4 million people lack adequate access to drinking water, increasing the risk of infectious diseases.
With over 4.5 million children aged 5-17 years and more than four million internally displaced persons, a third of whom have been displaced multiple times, the resilience of these populations is severely eroded.
In addition to the $2.7 billion required for humanitarian relief, the UN Sustainable Development Fund is seeking $1.3 billion to support sustainable development programs, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive support to address both immediate and long-term challenges in Yemen.
