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2025 Humanitarian Response

THE CRISIS IN YEMEN, A CRISIS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS

Now in its tenth year, the crisis in Yemen continues unabated. The deteriorating economic outlook, protracted conflict, and crumbling basic services are exacerbating humanitarian needs across the country. Meanwhile, climate shocks, increased regional tensions, and chronic underfunding of critical humanitarian sectors are further worsening people’s vulnerability and suffering.

In 2025, an estimated 19.5 million people across Yemen need humanitarian assistance and protection services—1.3 million more than last year. Women and girls continue to be disproportionately impacted by the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. They face severe protection risks, as well as limited access to basic services such as healthcare, especially maternal and reproductive care.

Nearly 80 per cent of the 4.8 million people displaced in Yemen are women and girls. A quarter of displaced households are headed by women, compared to 9 per cent before the escalation of the conflict in 2015.

Crisis in numbers

Results Recommendations

19.5 million

in need of some form of assistance

Results Recommendations

4.8 million

internally displaced persons

Results Recommendations

19.7 million

in need of health services

Results Recommendations

6.2 million

women and girls at risk of gender-based violence

Results Recommendations

5 million

women and girls of reproductive age (15-49) in need

Results Recommendations

1.2 million

acutely malnourished pregnant and lactating women

Results Recommendations

7 million

in need of mental health services

Results Recommendations

20%

of health facilities providing maternal and child health services

Women and girls at the epicentre of the crisis

Women and girls at the epicentre of the crisis

In 2025, an estimated 6.2 million women and girls are at risk of gender based violence, while over 90 per cent of rural areas lack the necessary services to respond to and prevent these acts of violence. Survivors without access to psychosocial support, referrals to health centres, legal aid and other services risk long-term physical, emotional, social and economic impacts, with potentially life-threatening consequences. 

Yemen is one of the few countries in the Arab region without a legal minimum age of marriage, and almost one third  of women are married before the age of 18. Early and child marriage puts women and children at further risk of health complications, especially those who are malnourished. Going into labour when too young puts enormous strain on a girl’s body, which can lead to debilitating conditions like obstetric fistula, and even death. Child marriage also casts a long shadow on mental and financial well-being of both women and their children. 

Maternal health for women and girls hangs in the balance

Maternal health for women and girls hangs in the balance

Yemen has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the region, at 183 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Reproductive health services are severely limited, with many women and girls lacking access to maternal care and family planning resources. Six out of 10 births take place without a skilled birth attendant, and four out of 10 women do not receive antenatal care from a skilled provider.

Yemen’s healthcare system remains extremely stretched. Some 40 per cent of Yemen's health facilities are partially functioning or completely out of service due to shortages in staff, funding, electricity, medicines and equipment, leaving millions without adequate care. Only one in five of functioning facilities is able to provide maternal and child health services.

Climate shocks hitting women and girls the hardest

Climate shocks hitting women and girls the hardest

Yemen is among the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change, and among the least prepared to mitigate or adapt to its impacts. The INFORM Risk Index ranks Yemen as the fourth most at-risk country globally to humanitarian crises and disasters, and as the third most vulnerable to climate change. Around half of Yemen’s population is exposed to at least one significant climate hazard, such as extreme heat, drought or flooding.

Climate-related emergencies have become the leading cause of new displacements inside the country, accounting for over 90 per cent of people supported through the UNFPA-led Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) in 2024. For women and girls, the fallout of extreme weather conditions has wide-ranging and life threatening consequences. New UNFPA research shows that climate extremes and the disasters that follow have a disproportionate impact on the mental and physical health of women, girls and newborns, including anxiety, hypertensive disorders, preterm and low weight births and stillbirths.

2025 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

Results Recommendations

Provision of vital lifesaving reproductive health services with emphasis on emergency obstetric and neonatal care to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity.

Results Recommendations

Provision of lifesaving protection services for women and girls with emphasis on prevention and response to different forms of violence.

Results Recommendations

Reaching all newly displaced persons with emergency lifesaving packages through the Rapid Response Mechanism.

2025 Funding Requirement

2025 PEOPLE TARGETED

Partnerships

UNFPA would like to express its sincere gratitude to the generous support of the following donors, listed in alphabetical order, for their contributions to its response to the crisis in Yemen since 2015:

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