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World Humanitarian Day 2025: WHO Yemen honors health workers and their dedication to saving lives in times of crisis
19 August 2025. Aden, Yemen – On World Humanitarian Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Yemen is paying tribute to the courage, dedication and sacrifice of health workers and humanitarian personnel who work tirelessly to save lives in one of the world’s most complex emergencies.
Over 19.6 million people in Yemen are in need of humanitarian assistance to meet their most basic needs. WHO and its partners continue to work alongside the Ministry of Public Health and Population and other health actors to ensure the delivery of lifesaving health services in the face of escalating needs, insecurity and restricted access.
“Health workers in Yemen are on the frontlines every day – delivering babies, responding to disease outbreaks, treating the wounded and ensuring communities have access to essential care – often at great personal risk,” said Acting WHO Representative in Yemen Office Dr Nuha Mahmoud. “They are the backbone of our humanitarian lifeline. It is their resilience that inspires us to continue our mission.”
This year Yemen has seen multiple disease outbreaks, including cholera, measles and dengue fever, and a growing burden of malnutrition, mental health needs and noncommunicable diseases. On the face of severe challenges, including damaged infrastructure, shortages of medicines and movement restrictions, WHO Yemen has:
supported over 141 health facilities with supplies, equipment and operational costs;
deployed rapid response teams to investigate and contain outbreaks;
strengthened disease surveillance systems for early detection and action; and
provided mental health and psychosocial support services to communities in need.
WHO Yemen mourns the loss of humanitarian colleagues who have given their lives in service to others. In Yemen, incidents of violence against humanitarian personnel continue to threaten the delivery of critical aid.
On World Humanitarian Day, WHO Yemen is calling on all parties to the conflict to uphold international humanitarian law, protect health workers and facilities and ensure safe, sustained access to communities in need.
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About WHO
Since 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been the United Nations agency dedicated to advancing health for all, so that everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage, direct and coordinate the world’s responses to health emergencies and connect nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.
UAE and WHO conclude the first phase of a multi-stage joint project to assess and improve the health and nutrition status in Socotra
14 July 2025– Field teams from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Erth Zayed Philanthropies of the United Arab Emirates, and in close coordination with Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP) have completed the first phase of a comprehensive baseline assessment in Socotra Island in Yemen. The multi-phase operation will comprise 4 scheduled field visits over a 1-year period by joint both teams.
The assessment is the initial phase of a comprehensive programme in Socotra, aiming over the next two to five years to reduce mortality related to poor health and malnutrition by 20% through an integrated health system strengthening approach. The baseline assessment covered 38 enumeration areas (villages) across the 29 sub-districts of Socotra.
Preliminary results show that 93% of targeted health facilities were surveyed. Data were collected from 4,214 households as part of the household listing process. Field teams conducted over 930 caregiver interviews, and took anthropometric measurement from eligible children and mothers, exceeding the initial target, and facilitated 12 focus group discussions with diverse community groups. All 15 planned key informant interviews with relevant and multi-sectoral stakeholders including local and national authorities, donor and UN agencies were completed. The teams also conducted 546 client exit interviews to gather beneficiary feedback on the services provided, exceeding the initial target.
The baseline assessment will now move into the data cleaning, verification and analysis phase, paving the way for a final report that will reveal the current status of the maternal and child health and nutrition status of the community and health facilities readiness and performance, including for health emergencies preparedness and response to guide evidence-based planning for the next phases of intervention, helping ensure that response activities align with identified community needs and health facilities priorities.
Upcoming stages of the joint project implementation include the procurement and distribution of medical and non-medical supplies, recruitment and deployment of technical experts and service providers, technical training programmes and community awareness campaigns. Activities will be implemented in coordination with WHO, the Ministry of Public Health and Population and other partners, ensuring alignment with national health strategies.
The efforts reflect the UAE’s data-driven humanitarian approach, implemented in partnership with leading international health organizations to create sustainable impact and improve public health indicators among the most vulnerable populations.
WHO remains committed to supporting joint efforts that enhance the resilience of the health system and local communities in Yemen and improve health outcomes for all and will continue to work with local authorities and partners to ensure access to all communities, including those in hard-to-reach areas.
WHO and UNICEF launch polio vaccination campaign targeting over 1.3 million children in Government of Yemen-controlled areas
12 July 2025, Aden, Yemen – A new round of polio vaccination for children begins this week in Government of Yemen-controlled areas.
The 3-day campaign, running from 12 to 14 July 2025, aims to boost population immunity in high-risk areas and prevent further spread of the virus by administering novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to more than 1.3 million children in 120 districts across 12 governorates. The intervention comes in response to cases in the community and the continued confirmed circulation of variant type 2 poliovirus (cVDPV2) in environmental samples.
“Yemen remains at high risk for poliovirus outbreaks due to protracted conflict, weakened health systems and low routine immunization coverage,” said Acting WHO Representative in Yemen Dr Ferima Coulbibaly-Zerbo. “With poliovirus continuing to circulate and cases confirmed in 2025, these campaigns are essential to interrupt transmission and protect every child from the debilitating effects of polio.”
Since 2021, Yemen has reported a total of 282 cVDPV2 cases across 122 districts in 19 of the country’s 22 governorates, with 98% of cases occurring in children under the age of 5. The overall epidemiological trend highlights the urgent need for nOPV-2 vaccine to halt cVDPV circulation in southern governorates and protect children from the disease.
The campaign is led by the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP) with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
It will be carried out by almost 7,000 vaccination teams, including over 6,000 mobile door-to-door teams and 800 teams at health facilities. Nearly 2,000 team supervisors and 240 district-level supervisors will oversee the campaign, with technical support from national and partner agencies.
“The campaign is an important and urgent step to protect children from being paralysed by the poliovirus. With confirmed cases of polio among Yemeni children, an imminent threat persists, especially for every unvaccinated child. But, through vaccination, we can keep our children safe,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative to Yemen.
WHO and UNICEF, as core partners of GPEI, are fully committed to supporting the Government of Yemen in its efforts to eradicate polio and strengthen routine immunization services. Continued investment and coordinated action are essential to ensure no child is left behind.
About WHO
Since 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been the United Nations agency dedicated to advancing health for all, so that everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage, direct and coordinate the world’s responses to health emergencies and connect nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children visit http://www.unicef.org/yemen
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Every drop counts: how clean water is restoring hope to Yemen’s hospitals
25 June 2025, Aden, Yemen – Before the water trucks started arriving, each morning at the hospital began with uncertainty.
“We used to check the water tanks before we checked on patients,” says Amal, a nurse at a Khalifa Hospital in Yemen. “If there was no water, we had to rethink everything –sterilization, wound care, even washing hands.”
Water, a simple and essential resource, had become increasingly scarce in Yemen’s overburdened health facilities. Without it, health care workers like Amal had to make difficult decisions every day.
“You can’t clean an operating room or safely deliver a baby without water,” she says. “But often, no water was a daily reality.”
Things began to shift when WHO launched to restore access to safe water in hospitals through “Improved WASH Services in Hospitals with Sustainable Water Supply” project, supported by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief),to serve the most vulnerable populations in Yemen. With this initiative, 60 health care facilities now receive regular trucks of clean water, allowing to better serve 580,000 people, many of them displaced or living in high-risk areas.
A matter of survival
Before the intervention, water shortages led to critical procedures being postponed and the closure of delivery rooms. Sanitation and basic infection prevention protocols were compromised.
“We sometimes had to send patients elsewhere, not because we lacked doctors, but because we had no water,” says Dr. Mohammed, Head of Nursing Department at Taiz Psychiatric Hospital,. “It was painful for everyone involved.”
Today, with regular water deliveries and a water quality control system in place, project hospitals can function more reliably. Disinfection routines are followed, surgical wards are active and basic hygiene is no longer a daily struggle.
“We’ve regained stability. Staff are less stressed and patients are safer,” says Dr.Mohammed.
Delivering more than a water
Behind the scenes are people like Hussein, a water trucking supervisor, who oversees distribution to more than 50 hospitals in 5 governorates.
“Every tank we deliver is tested and treated before use,” he explains. “And when a hospital calls to say they’ve received the delivery, we know we’ve helped someone get care they can trust.”
There have been challenges along the way, rough roads, occasional contamination and the pressure to meet growing needs. But the impact, Hussein adds, makes it worth it.
“Clean water doesn’t just improve services, it protects lives.”
New standards of care
Amal senses the change in every corner of Khalifa Hospital.
“Now we can focus on patient care, not just on coping. We’re able to follow proper hygiene steps and respond quickly in emergencies. That makes a real difference, especially in maternity and surgery.”
Infections are down, Staff morale is up, and for the first time in years, patients-and their relatives are expressing satisfaction with the cleanliness and safety of facilities.
“Even visitors notice,” says Amal. “People are no longer afraid to come here for service.”
Thankful for every drop
“Thank you for seeing this need, for responding before things got worse,” says Amal.
“This wasn’t just about infrastructure,” adds Mohammed. “It was about restoring dignity and trust to health care in Yemen.”
With KSrelief’s fund, safe water has returned to places where hope was fading, and with it, the ability of health care workers to do what they are trained to do. Save lives, safely and with dignity.
WHO and UAE launch joint programme to reduce malnutrition among Yemenis on Socotra Island
01 June 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO), in partnership with the Government of the United Arab Emirates through the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Humanitarian Work (an affiliate of Erth Zayed Philanthropies), and in close coordination with Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP), has launched a comprehensive programme to combat malnutrition in Socotra, a Yemeni island in the Indian Ocean.
Socotra is facing malnutrition challenges driven by food insecurity, as well as repeated outbreaks of cholera, measles and dengue fever. Health and nutrition services are critically under-resourced, placing children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women at extreme risk of preventable illness and death.
The island’s more than 83 000 residents are served by 32 health facilities which are under immense strain. It lacks a central public health laboratory, a functional drug warehouse and a medical prepositioning system, all of which are essential for timely emergency response and sustainable health care delivery.
The fragile health system suffers from a lack of skilled health personnel, essential medicines and emergency readiness mechanisms. Maternal health indicators are alarming, with 92.7% of pregnant women anemic and antenatal care attendance low. Around 37% of children have yet to receive a single vaccine dose. The global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate stands at 10.9% and the severe acute malnutrition (SAM) rate at 1.6%, indicating a serious public health emergency.
“This programme reflects a joint commitment by WHO and the UAE to improving the health and well-being of vulnerable populations, particularly mothers and children, while reinforcing healthcare systems in crisis-affected areas. In partnership with national authorities, we are working to create more resilient, equitable, and responsive health services for the people of Socotra, establishing a foundation for long-term health security on the island and contributing to a stronger and healthier Yemen,” said Acting WHO Representative in Yemen Dr Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo.
The initiative began with a baseline health and nutrition survey conducted between 24 and 30 May 2025. Over the next two, years the project aims to reduce mortality related to poor health and malnutrition by 20% through an integrated health system strengthening approach. The project aims to:
enhance maternal and child health service coverage in 80% of health facilities within the next 24 months;
strengthen outbreak preparedness and disaster risk reduction by equipping health care facilities and build staff capacity so they can respond effectively to epidemic-prone diseases and cyclone-related emergencies;
establish a multisectoral health and nutrition coordination platform that enables quarterly strategic planning meetings between WHO, UAE, MoPHP and partners;
generate real-time evidence-based data through the baseline health and nutrition survey conducted between 24 and 30 May 2025; and
strengthen routine health information reporting/ system to track progress on service utilization, morbidity and mortality.
“H.E. Mohamed Haji Al Khouri, Director General of the Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation for Humanitarian Work, stressed the UAE’s humanitarian and global responsibility to develop communities and enhance critical health services. “This stems from the enduring humanitarian legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. We are determined to effectively address food and health challenges faced by women and children in Socotra, in collaboration with the WHO,” he said.
Al Khouri explained that the Khalifa Foundation, an affiliate of Erth Zayed Philanthropies, would work with the WHO to develop appropriate solutions to nutritional and health challenges using a new survey based on current data. “The joint initiative aims to reduce maternal and child mortality caused by malnutrition through a comprehensive plan of action. This will enhance maternal, infant, and child care services, and improve emergency preparedness and response to epidemics,” he added.“
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About WHO
Since 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been the United Nations agency dedicated to advancing health for all, so that everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage, direct and coordinate the world’s responses to health emergencies and connect nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.
A health worker’s fight against cholera in Yemen
27 May 2025, Aden, Yemen – For years, Yemen has been fighting outbreaks of cholera and other epidemic prone diseases. In the bustling streets of Aden, where life continues against what often seem insurmountable odds, Al-Mualla Diarrhoea Treatment Centre (DTC) provides a beacon of hope for families battling the devastating impacts of cholera.
Behind every life saved is a story of determination, compassion and unrelenting dedication – stories like that of Dr Khalid Mohammed Jaber, an internal medicine specialist working at Al-Mualla, on the forefront of the battle against cholera.
Dr Khalid’s efforts, supported by the US$ 3 million King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief)-funded cholera response project, have helped transform Al-Mualla facility into a lifeline for those most in need. From providing free of charge care to spreading awareness about prevention, his work shows what targeted funding can achieve.
“Every patient feels like one of my own children”
For Dr Khalid, treating cholera patients is more than a job – it is a vocation rooted in empathy.
“When a patient recovers, it feels as if one of my own children has been healed,” he said. “The joy is immeasurable. It reassures me that my efforts are making a difference.”
By ensuring the availability of essential treatments, diagnostic tools and follow-up care, the KSrelief project has significantly enhanced the Centre's capacity to care for cholera patients. According to Dr Khalid, the support has made a substantial difference. It allows patients to access previously inaccessible care for free, alleviating the financial burden on families and allowing the Centre to deliver effective treatments on time.
Despite these achievements, challenges remain. Dr Khalid emphasized the importance of public awareness in preventing cholera.
“Health education is crucial,” he said. “I use every opportunity – at the clinic, in mosques, during conversations – to inform people about the importance of handwashing, food safety and environmental hygiene.”
There are varying levels of understanding within the community. Dr Khalid observed that while some individuals recognize the importance of these practices, others struggle to adapt and change their habits. Acknowledging that progress takes time, he is optimistic that meaningful change can be achieved.
Sustaining the fight against cholera
In Yemen, where many families struggle to afford even a basic meal, the KSrelief-funded cholera response project has become a lifeline for the country’s most vulnerable, offering hope and tangible support in the fight against cholera.
By reducing the financial burden of treatment, the project has made health care more accessible. By providing essential resources and supplies, it helps ensure that health care facilities are equipped to respond to outbreaks. Through comprehensive training and capacity-building programmes, it empowers health workers to deliver effective care and protect their communities from this devastating disease.
By prioritizing the accurate dissemination of information, the project effectively addresses misinformation and helps ensure accurate messages reach communities, fostering better awareness and understanding.
Through a multifaceted approach, the project not only addresses immediate health crises, it is helping to lay the foundations for long-term health resilience in Yemen. This collaborative effort highlights how partnerships can create meaningful change, bringing lifesaving support to those who need it most.
“The funding allows us to work with dedication and honesty, lifting the burden from our patients’ shoulders. But the fight isn’t over – we must continue to raise awareness and provide care until cholera is no longer a threat,” said Dr Khalid.
At Al-Mualla DTC in Aden, every patient treated represents a life saved—a life that could have been lost without the critical, life-saving intervention provided through this important intervention.
Since its launch, this project has given a second chance to 250 individuals, including 178 patients suffering from moderate to severe dehydration who were admitted for urgent treatment between November 1 and December 18, 2024. These patients were on the brink of losing their lives to cholera, a ruthless disease that can claim lives within hours due to rapid fluid and electrolyte loss.
Their survival is a powerful testament to this intervention, transforming what could have been tragedies into stories of hope and recovery. Each case is not just a number, but a life saved—a mother, father, child, or sibling. With the continuation such important support, countless more lives can be spared, preserving families, futures, and communities.
KSrelief support to this centre along with four additional centres, essential medicines and medical supplies, training and supervision of health workers and incentives for staff working 24/7. This vital support ensures that those affected by cholera can access timely care, preventing further suffering and saving lives across Yemen.
KSrelief funding saves young lives in Yemen
18 March 2025, Aden, Yemen – As of 1 December, Yemen had reported over 249 900 suspected cases of cholera, with 861 associated deaths, since the start of 2024, accounting for 35% of the global cholera burden and 18% of reported mortality.
Cholera remains a major health threat in Yemen, economic hardship and crumbling infrastructure. Caused by contaminated water and poor sanitation, the disease continues to claim lives, particularly among children.
In May 2024, with US$ 3 million in funding from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), lifesaving interventions were launched to reduce illness and prevent further spread.
Health facilities like Al-Mualla Diarrhoea Treatment Centre (DTC) in Aden Governorate have become critical actors in the battle against cholera, offering free-of-charge, timely care to vulnerable communities.
For Rami Ibrahim Omar Hassan, a 28-year-old father from Aden, support came just in time. Life for his family of 7 was already a daily struggle when his two young daughters, aged 10 and 6, suddenly fell ill with severe diarrhoea and vomiting. The situation escalated quickly, with both girls experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea up to 3 times a day.
“I was very afraid for my daughters,” Rami says. “The lives of our children are precious, and I couldn’t bear to think of losing them.”
With only 3000 Yemeni Riyals in his pocket Rami acted quickly, hiring a private car to Al-Mualla Centre after it was recommended by neighbours.
The girls received immediate treatment at the centre, including intravenous fluids and essential medicines made possible through KSrelief funding. While treatment outside the centre remains costly, Al-Mualla provides free-of-charge care.
The medical staff treated the girls and gave the family guidance to prevent future infections. “They explained the importance of hygiene, keeping the house clean, maintaining personal hygiene and acting quickly at the first sign of illness to avoid complications and prevent the sickness spreading,” explains Rami.
For health staff, seeing patients recover is deeply rewarding. Ansam Farah Ramadan, Head of the Nursing Department at the Centre, describes these moments: “Watching patients recover, especially those who arrive in such a critical state, is indescribable. It is like seeing a loved one brought back to life.”
Rami’s daughters are now on the path to recovery. Their story serves as a powerful reminder of how timely care can mean the difference between life and loss.
Since the launch of the KSrelief-funded project, 250 beneficiaries have received treatment, of whom 178 (71%), experiencing moderate to severe dehydration, were admitted for lifesaving care at Al-Mualla Centre between 1 November and 18 December 2024.
KSrelief support to DTCs includes essential medicines and medical supplies, training and supervision of health workers, and incentives for staff working 24/7. This vital support ensures that those affected by cholera can access timely care, preventing further suffering and saving lives.
Yemen’s path to zero malaria
Aden, Yemen, 25 April 2025 - On World Malaria Day 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for urgent and united action to control malaria in Yemen. This year’s global theme, “Malaria Ends with Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite”, underscores the need for collective responsibility, innovation and investment to end this preventable and treatable disease.
Malaria continues to place a heavy burden on vulnerable communities across Yemen, particularly in hard-to-reach areas. A weakened health system, the result of years of conflict, and climate change, compound the challenges of fighting against malaria. WHO, together with the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MoPHP) and its partners, is stepping up efforts to deliver tailored, lifesaving interventions and ensure access to timely diagnosis and effective treatment.
“Despite the immense challenges, Yemen has an opportunity to make real progress against malaria,” said Acting WHO Representative in Yemen Dr Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo. “We are working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Public Health and Population and health partners to scale up prevention, strengthen surveillance and reach those most in need with essential services.”
WHO and MoPHP are implementing context-specific approaches guided by realities on the ground. They include enhancing malaria surveillance systems, addressing malaria drug and insecticide resistance, promoting community-based vector control and expanding access to diagnostics and treatment services, particularly in remote and underserved districts.
Key figures from Yemen’s malaria programme
In 2024, Yemen recorded 210,022 confirmed malaria cases, with 18 related deaths. Over 2 million insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) were distributed nationwide, and 1,735,000 suspected cases tested at sentinel and peripheral health facilities. More than 2,294 community health workers have been trained to support local malaria surveillance and response. These efforts, though significant, need to be urgently scaled up to meet elimination targets.
Eliminating malaria in Yemen will require sustained political commitment, stronger national ownership and increased domestic and international investments. WHO is advocating for greater resource mobilization and collaboration with donors, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society and the private sector to bridge critical funding gaps and deliver on the promise of a malaria-free future.
“Malaria elimination in Yemen is an ambitious yet achievable target,” added Dr Coulibaly-Zerbo. “It will take commitment, strategic investment and strong partnerships. WHO remains fully committed to supporting the government and communities across Yemen in this vital fight. A Yemen free from malaria is a step towards health security, resilience and sustainable development.”
As the world marks World Malaria Day, WHO Yemen urges all stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment and scale up support to end malaria in Yemen once and for all.
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About WHO
Since 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been the United Nations agency dedicated to advancing health for all, so that everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage, direct and coordinate the world’s responses to health emergencies and connect nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.
World Immunization Week 2025
‘Immunize for life’: Yemen marks World Immunization Week 2025
24 April 2025, During World Immunization Week, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Yemen joins global partners in celebrating immunization as one of humanity’s greatest achievements. The week provides an opportunity to reflect on progress made in preventing life-threatening diseases and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring everyone has access to lifesaving vaccines.
Immunization has saved millions of lives and is one of the most powerful tools in the fight against preventable diseases. It has contributed to healthier communities and reduced child mortality. In Yemen, around one Million children have been vaccinated in the past year, protecting them from diseases like measles, polio and diphtheria.
Vaccines offer disease prevention, give children the opportunity to grow, learn and thrive, and reduce the burden on families and health care systems.
To reach millions of children under 5 in underserved and conflict-affected areas, WHO Yemen and partners are actively working to strengthen routine vaccination with the global Big Catch up initiative. Yet despite progress, many people in Yemen continue to face barriers. The ongoing conflict has weakened the health care infrastructure, and logistical obstacles mean families in remote and underserved areas face major challenges in accessing lifesaving immunizations. As a result, Yemen is grappling with severe outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
During the 2024 measles outbreak in Yemen, 27 517 cases and 260 deaths were reported, among the highest figures globally. Since 2017, more than 1500 diphtheria cases have been recorded, resulting in over 200 fatalities. Since 2021, 272 children have been affected by circulating variant poliovirus. These alarming figures are a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of limited vaccine access.
WHO Yemen is committed to making immunization for all a reality. We are working closely with the Ministry of Public Health and Population to overcome barriers and ensure that every person in Yemen can access lifesaving vaccines.
Vaccination is not a privilege, it is a human right. Immunization for all is possible, and we can achieve it together. During World Immunization Week 2025, WHO Yemen is calling on governments, authorities, health organizations and communities to unite and ensure that everyone gets the protection they deserve.
“Immunization is not just about protecting individuals, it is about safeguarding the future of entire communities. In Yemen, as in the rest of the world, every child has the right to grow up healthy, and every life saved through immunization brings us closer to a more equitable and resilient society. We urge all stakeholders – representatives of all authorities, health workers, partners and communities – to redouble efforts to ensure every individual in Yemen, especially every child, has access to lifesaving vaccines, no matter where they live,” says Acting WHO Representative in Yemen Dr Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo.
For a healthier, stronger Yemen and a safer world, let’s immunize for life.
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About WHO
Since 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been the United Nations agency dedicated to advancing health for all, so that everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health. WHO leads global efforts to expand universal health coverage, direct and coordinate the world’s responses to health emergencies and connect nations, partners and people to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.
A mother’s struggle: fighting malnutrition in Yemen
14 April 2025, Aden, Yemen – At just 5 months old, Amir Taher Ali has already endured more than any child should. Born in Salah Al-Din, Aden, he has battled severe acute malnutrition, a chest infection, persistent diarrhoea and an umbilical hernia that needs surgery.
His mother remembers the helplessness she felt as his health deteriorated. “He was so sick and no matter what I did, I couldn’t comfort him. My milk dried up because of the stress. I felt completely helpless,” she says. “Now, at least, he is receiving care. I just want him to be healthy again.”
After struggling at home, Amir was eventually brought to the therapeutic feeding centre where he is now receiving treatment.
“The doctors and nurses have been kind, and I see him improving. But I pray no other mother has to watch her child suffer like this.”
A daily struggle
Life for Amir’s family has never been easy. His father, a daily wage worker, earns barely enough to buy food. On some days there is nothing to eat.
“When that happens, we fast,” his mother says quietly. “A stranger gave us baby clothes when Amir was born. We have always relied on the kindness of others.”
Malnutrition in Yemen: a widespread crisis
Amir is one of 2.3 million children in Yemen suffering from acute malnutrition. Half a million of them face severe acute malnutrition and 69 000 need urgent medical care. Without treatment, malnutrition leaves children vulnerable to infections like pneumonia and diarrhoea, among the leading causes of child deaths in Yemen.
With support from the German Foreign Office, WHO is working to save lives. It provides medical care to 31220 malnourished children at 96 stabilization centres, and is training 1546 health care workers to ensure more children get the treatment they desperately need.
“Malnutrition remains one of the biggest threats to children’s health in Yemen,” says Acting WHO Representative in Yemen Dr Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo. “No child should have to suffer from hunger or preventable diseases. With the support of our partners, WHO is committed to ensuring that children receive the care and nutrition they need to survive and thrive.”
While Amir’s journey is not over, his mother refuses to lose hope. “I just want to take him home healthy. That is every mother’s wish.”
