Prosthetic and Rehabilitation Program in Yemen
Humanitarian Context in Yemen
Yemen is now cited as a case study in the context of the relationship between war and disease, entering its tenth year of armed conflict since it erupted in 2014. The poorest Arab country faces a humanitarian crisis that is the worst in the world, with humanitarian needs remaining at extremely high levels across the Republic of Yemen, where over twenty million of the country’s population relies on humanitarian assistance. According to the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs-OCHA, approximately 18.2 million people (23% women, 54% children, and 15% with disabilities) will require humanitarian assistance and protection services in Yemen, representing over 55% of the total population (more than half the country). Protection services are among the most pressing needs, with an estimated 16.4 million people in need of protection services, including those affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war. Furthermore, the cholera epidemic remains a significant threat, targeting the most vulnerable groups such as internally displaced people (IDPs) and those with disabilities. Yemen also faces one of the highest recorded rates of malnutrition globally, with the situation continuing to deteriorate. Estimates indicate that nearly half of children under five suffer from varying degrees of stunting, affecting their life potential. This is attributed to a lack of funding for preventive services and the resurgence of measles due to hesitancy in vaccinating children and irregular food assistance, which increases the risks associated with deteriorating nutritional conditions. The needs in the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector are estimated at around 17.4 million people, particularly in urban areas that have witnessed new waves of displacement, leading to resource depletion. Areas surrounding active frontline zones in governorates such as Al-Jawf, Al-Bayda, Al-Hudaydah, Hajjah, Marib, Shabwa, and Taiz face acute needs, with 5.1 million people (including 1.4 million IDPs) in need of water and sanitation services.