Yemen is facing an escalating humanitarian crisis with an estimated 7 million people at risk of acute malnutrition. FHI 360 is undertaking a “find and treat” campaign in Hodeidah and Taiz governorates to identify and refer for treatment the estimated 10% of children under 5 suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
Marie de la Roche, Yemen country representative, says:
“It is difficult to reach people in rural areas amid ongoing conflict, so our team members go house to house, walking over rough terrain. It can take hours or days to reach each family — precious time when a child is malnourished and at risk of dying if untreated. Since October 2024, 19%, or nearly 1 in 5 children, under the age of 5 years that we have reached were identified as acutely malnourished and referred for treatment. Of the identified cases, 40% had not received any treatment previously.
“It’s urgent that we seek out and identify those children in immediate need of nutritional support. In conflict areas along the front line in Taiz and Hodeidah governorates, thousands of children are at high risk of mortality. Undernutrition has risen as conflict continues unabated, economic conditions deteriorate and flooding contaminates drinking water, contributing to a rise in disease.
“The children of Yemen are in urgent need of additional food aid; last year’s U.N. Humanitarian Response Plan was only 51% funded.”
FHI 360 has worked in Yemen since 2006. We support conflict-affected communities by providing nutritional support, improving access to clean water and rehabilitating damaged or destroyed health facilities.
To learn more about our work, please visit: https://www.fhi360.org/countries/yemen/