The humanitarian situation in Yemen is worsening as political instability and the conflict continues. After decades of chronic underdevelopment and socio-economic crisis, 15.9 million people – over 60 percent of the population – are now in need of humanitarian assistance. Children and women have been hardest hit. “More than 800,000 children under the age of 5 are suffering from acute malnutrition,” says Dawelbait Mohamed, CARE Yemen’s Country Director. “This is alarming. Every day this crisis continues, more people are facing poverty and despair,” The 2015 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan estimates that Yemen needs 748 million dollars to assist 8.2 million people who are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. As the situation continues to deteriorate, basic service infrastructure is near collapse, with fewer and fewer people able to access life-saving assistance, basic health care and education. “We are also worried that the instability and risk of conflict is hampering the education system, the economy and the ability of everyday people in Yemen to find ways of supporting and feeding their families,” Mohamed said “It is crucial that Yemen’s continuous development process does not come to a halt. We need to make sure the country does not plunge further into poverty.”
Despite the on-going political, humanitarian and security challenges, CARE with its partners, continues to deliver much needed support to Yemenis in various areas of the country. CARE has worked in Yemen since 1992 focusing on: women’s and youth economic empowerment; prevention of gender-based violence; social inclusion; water resource management; civil society strengthening; good governance; and providing humanitarian assistance to refugees and those affected by conflict.
“We are calling on donors to continue longer-term support for Yemen and not only concentrate on the current emergency. We need to keep building up basic service provisions to make sure the humanitarian needs of the Yemeni people are met not only in the immediate, but also in the long-term”, says Mohamed. “Yemen’s leaders need to put the political process back on track and humanitarian and development funding to Yemen needs to be sustained. If the political instability continues and funding by donors is suspended or withheld, it may be harder to continue reaching Yemenis who are in much needed support,” says Mohamed.
Read more about CARE'S work in Yemen