UN warns 22 million in Yemen at risk as funding shortages force aid cuts

UN warns 22 million in Yemen at risk as funding shortages force aid cuts
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The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned that more than 22 million people in Yemen are at risk as critical funding shortfalls force humanitarian agencies to scale back essential aid programmes.

In a new report titled “The Price of Inaction,” OCHA said 22.3 million people currently require humanitarian assistance, as the country faces a deepening crisis after more than a decade of conflict and economic instability.

The report described 2026 as a “critical turning point,” warning that insufficient funding and limited access to affected areas could push millions toward severe hunger and worsening living conditions. It noted that 2.2 million children under five are already suffering from acute malnutrition, raising the risk of long-term health complications or death.

OCHA also highlighted growing strain on Yemen’s healthcare system, with around 40 percent of facilities either partially functioning or completely out of service. An estimated 19.3 million people are expected to face heightened health risks this year.

The crisis has been compounded by displacement, with over 5.3 million people forced from their homes, and by limited access to clean water, affecting at least 14.4 million residents. Aid agencies warned that vulnerable groups, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, are particularly at risk.

The report cautioned that further reductions in humanitarian support could lead to increased outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, measles, and diphtheria, while also disrupting education and exposing children to child labour and early marriage.

Recent flooding in western Yemen has added to the crisis, killing at least seven people and damaging homes, infrastructure, and farmland. Humanitarian organisations say such natural disasters are exacerbating already fragile conditions in a country struggling with prolonged conflict and limited resources.