Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
- UNICEF continued to coordinate the response for the ongoing cholera outbreak with the national cholera taskforce, distributing 244 Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) kits across all governorates, equipping health facilities, and training 110 health workers on cholera case management and infection prevention and control (IPC) practices.
- UNICEF is providing critical support to health facilities (HFs) across Yemen. These efforts are instrumental in maintaining essential health services for around 700,000 women, girls, and boys amid the ongoing humanitarian challenges.
- During the three quarters of 2024, a total of 3,152,616 (1,567,085 boys, 1,585,531 girls) children under 5 years were screened for malnutrition. Out of these, 277,677 (125,055 boys, 152,622 girls) children with SAM were identied and admitted to Outpatient Treatment Programs (OTPs).
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
9,800,000 Children in need of humanitarian assistance
18,200,000 People in need of humanitarian assistance
FUNDING OVERVIEW AND PARTNERSHIPS
The Yemen Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal was revised in July 2024 and requires US$ 170 million for UNICEF’s response in 2024. UNICEF’s humanitarian strategy in Yemen focuses on providing direct life-saving assistance and building systems to strengthen linkages between humanitarian action and development/resilience programming. As of 30 September 2024, UNICEF received a total of US$110.8 million against the revised 2024 HAC appeal and a total of US$39.4 million was carried forward from 2023, leaving a funding gap of US$ 20.5 million (12 per cent of the total amount required) to continue UNICEF’s life-saving work in Yemen.
During the reporting period, UNICEF received contributions from various donors, including the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance USAID, Canada, Switzerland and Liechtenstein Committee for UNICEF, the European Commission/ECHO, France, Norway, the United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF, UNICEF Ireland.
SITUATION OVERVIEW AND HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
In 2024, Yemen continues to face multiple crises, including ongoing conflict, deterioration of economic conditions, severe food insecurity, widespread malnutrition, a fragile healthcare system, and recurrent disease outbreaks, all of which compound the humanitarian situation.
As of September 2024, the situation around cholera/acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) remains severe, with widespread outbreaks affecting 20 of the 22 governorates since March 2024. As of the end of September, the government authorities, as well as the cluster organizations, reported more than 190,000 suspected cholera/acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases with more than 720 associated deaths. The case fatality rate remains below the Sphere standards, at 0.3 percent in the north and 0.44 percent in the south, reflecting the continued performance of case management efforts. However, the marked rise in recorded cases points to persisting gaps in outbreak containment responses. Key challenges include inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure, funding shortages, and ongoing conflict.
A national cholera taskforce in both the north & the south is coordinating the response efforts from the government side with plans addressing health, Water Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) and social behavior change (SBC). Humanitarian agencies, including UNICEF, are providing support through Oral Rehydration Centers (ORCs) and diarrhoea treatment centers (DTCs), hygiene promotion, and water safety measures, including providing quick impact projects to curb the spread of the disease; however, the main threat remains to be the insufficiency of the waste-water treatment plants across the country.
The country has been experiencing significant flooding in 2024, resulting in a humanitarian crisis. According to OCHA, more than 187,000 families across 20 governorates have been affected by torrential rains and floods, which have caused extensive damage, impacting over 1.3 million people across 20 governorates. The floods have destroyed homes, agricultural land, and critical infrastructure such as health facilities, schools, water-supply schemes, and roads. This has affected daily life and impeded access to essential services like healthcare and safe water.
The floods, in addition to increasing the spread of cholera, have triggered various waterborne disease outbreaks like malaria and dengue fever, which have flared up due to stagnant water and vector propagation. Governorates such as Hodeidah, Al Mahwit and Taiz have faced severe impacts, including landslides, flash floods, and significant loss of life.
Humanitarian response faced challenges in reaching affected populations due to damaged roads and accessibility issues. The need for immediate support remains critical as ongoing conflicts and economic crises exacerbate the situation.
The ongoing humanitarian crisis has heightened the vulnerability of children and women, exposing them to exploitation, violence, and abuse, and leading to negative coping mechanisms such as gender-based violence (GBV), child marriage, and child labour. Learning losses and unequal access to education are likely irreversible without urgent, inclusive, and gender-responsive learning opportunities for 6.2 million at-risk children and 7.3 million children in need of child protection services. .
While the needs of the population remain high, the humanitarian operating environment continues to deteriorate with the continuation of the Gaza war and its toll on the region. Access constraints, bureaucratic impediments and insecurity continue to pose daily challenges for humanitarian efforts. Programme implementation is further constrained due to detentions of humanitarian staff of UN, NGO and civil society in June 2024 and restrictions which are further constraining the provision of humanitarian aid.