Yemen

Fighting Conflict & Hunger

Yemen is one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, suffering from both climate extremes and conflict.
WFP/ Hebatallah Munassar/2022

This is How WFP Delivers Food in Yemen

The U.N. World Food Programme has been working in Yemen since 1967. Through all the ongoing conflict and natural disasters, WFP is determined to bring food to vulnerable families. Today, it supports Yemenis with emergency food assistance, school meals, vouchers and e-cards.

WFP/Fares Khoailed

Ships

WFP is the only U.N. agency with its own shipping unit, delivering food assistance through the Red Sea and into strategic Yemeni ports. Dedicated staff negotiate shipping lines and navigate tricky routes to keep cargo safe. A single ship can carry 25,000 tons of wheat, enough to feed 2 million people for a month.

WFP cash assistance in Yemen WFP/Mahmoud Fadhel/2024

Cash Assistance

Where local markets are functioning and food is available but unaffordable, cash-based transfers give Yemenis the power to purchase food on their own terms. Families can buy fresh produce, fish, meat and other essentials. This year, WFP aims to reach 9 million people with cash and food assistance.

WFP/Fares Khoailed

UNHAS

WFP manages the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), which plays a crucial role in transporting humanitarian assistance and staff. UNHAS has provided safe and reliable air transport services to, from, and in Yemen since 2015. Through its fleet of three aircraft, UNHAS served 93 partners in 2023.

WFP/Fares Khoailed

mVAM

In countries around the world and in Yemen, the mobile Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (mVAM) unit equips families with mobile phones so they can share information with WFP about their needs. Families call a hotline and WFP uses the information it collects to better plan assistance and track changes in food prices.

Make a difference in Yemen

Looming Starvation

Food insecurity in Yemen is at an all-time high. Nearly 18 million Yemenis – over half the population – don’t know when they’ll eat another meal. With multiple threats closing in from all sides, untold numbers of innocent people could starve. We’re fighting hard to feed the most vulnerable people, but we desperately need more funds to do so.

Yemen Facts

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Population: 34.4 million people.
Background: North Yemen gained independence in 1918. By 1967, the People’s Republic of Yemen is created in the south. The two countries merged into one in 199
Geography & Climate: Yemen is located on the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, Oman to the east, the Gulf of Aden to the south and the Red Sea to the west. The region is mostly a dry and hot desert landscape with mountains in the west.
Economy: Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The country’s economy has been severely weakened by years of civil war. Its main industries include oil, gas, agriculture and fishing.

Causes of Hunger

little girl in pink head scarf carrying jug WFP/Annabel Symington

See How WFP is Helping the People of Yemen

A young child is checked for malnutrition in Yemen
Nutrition Support
In Yemen, WFP provides both malnutrition prevention and treatment services for children under 5 and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. In addition to specialized nutritious food, we provide cash-based assistance and nutrition awareness sessions.
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Ferdous sits with classmates
School Meals
In 2024, WFP reached around 1 million schoolchildren each month with school meals and snacks – including fortified date bars and high-energy biscuits. WFP also runs a Healthy Kitchens project which provides locally sourced and freshly prepared meals to students. The integrated project provides a market for small-scale farmers to sell their crops, jobs for low-income households and nutritious meals for children to eat.
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Fami Abdullah on his farm in Yemen
Resilience Programs
WFP works with communities in Yemen to rebuild assets like roads, agricultural land, irrigation systems, schools and health facilities. These projects contribute to people’s long-term food security by bolstering community assets, supporting small-scale agriculture and equipping participants with essential skills. Project participants also receive cash assistance.
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Lastest News

What’s Happening in Yemen? An Explainer on the Conflict and Its Impact on Civilians