Delivering H2O to Yemen's Displaced Population
In the heart of the Middle East, Yemen, a nation of 38 million inhabitants, has been grappling with the repercussions of a civil war that erupted in 2015. Since then, at least half of its population has been living in extremely difficult conditions.
The already weak infrastructure in Yemen is suffering further from the war, with the currency having collapsed and the economy being idle. This has led many Yemenis to seek shelter in the south, living in tents, temporary accommodation, or with host communities.
The humanitarian situation in Yemen is one of the most dramatic in the world. More than four million Yemenis are refugees in their own country, and access to clean water remains a critical challenge. Over 15 million Yemenis lack safe drinking water and reliable sanitation, with IDPs often relying on distant wells, requiring children to spend hours fetching water instead of attending school.
Yemen is experiencing acute food insecurity affecting nearly half the population, including about 4.5 million IDPs. The sharp depreciation of the Yemeni rial, conflict disruptions, economic collapse, and erratic weather impacting agricultural production severely limit food availability and access.
Current efforts to improve living conditions for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Yemen focus significantly on access to water, hygiene, and nutrition. However, the scarcity of water supply infrastructure and the danger of long-distance collection continue to undermine hygiene and health.
The challenges are numerous. The humanitarian crisis is worsened by a severe decline in international aid funding, with only 9% of needs met by May 2025 for the UN Humanitarian Response Plan in Yemen. This funding gap has forced suspension of vital programs across food, health, water, and protection sectors, reducing aid reach to displaced persons.
The broader economic collapse since the conflict began in 2015 has pushed 58% of the population into extreme poverty, with millions losing jobs and social safety nets, directly affecting nutritional outcomes and the ability of IDPs to meet basic needs.
Ensuring adequate health services is vital, including in detention settings where organizations like the ICRC support medical clinics to address complex health needs and prevent outbreaks.
Despite these challenges, there are signs of hope. Measures taken by WHH and PIN have shown the first signs of success, and a drinking water well has been restored in Al-Anad, benefiting around 200 households, and will soon reach 3,200. Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and its partner organization People In Need (PIN) are working in the Lahij governorate to improve the living conditions of internally displaced people.
Without substantial increases in aid and improvements in stability, the living conditions of displaced Yemenis risk worsening in terms of water access, hygiene, and nutrition. It is crucial that the international community continues to support humanitarian efforts in Yemen to alleviate the suffering of its people and help them rebuild their lives.
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen, exacerbated by the civil war and economic collapse, has led to a significant number of Yemenis relying on nutrient-poor food sources, thereby increasing the likelihood of malnutrition among the population. To counteract this, organizations like Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and People In Need (PIN) are focusing on improving access to nutrition for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
In an effort to improve the health-and-wellness of displaced Yemenis, WHH and PIN are working in the Lahij governorate to not only enhance access to clean water and reliable sanitation but also provide essential nutrients necessary for a healthy lifestyle. However, without substantial increases in aid and improvements in stability, the living conditions of displaced Yemenis could further deteriorate, leading to more complex health issues and a persistent nutritional crisis.
