YEMEN
“In Yemen 2024–2025, nearly half of all children under five suffer from chronic or acute malnutrition — a humanitarian shock unlike nearly any other. With millions needing food, health, water, protection and education, this crisis isn’t just about hunger: it threatens entire generations.”
The numbers show a deep, systemic collapse: malnutrition, food insecurity, lack of basic services, education breakdown — all overlapping.
Even when children are screened and identified for severe malnutrition, the treatment — though significant — remains far below what’s needed. Many remain unreached or drop out due to instability.
The crisis is multi-dimensional, not just nutrition: health, water, sanitation, education, child protection, maternal care — all areas suffer.
Chronic malnutrition (stunting) among nearly half of under-5 children implies long-term developmental damage, not just immediate risk.
Ongoing conflict, damaged infrastructure, economic collapse, disease outbreaks (waterborne illnesses, measles, cholera) exacerbate the vulnerabilities faced by children. Yemen — Children & Humanitarian Data (2024–2025)
Indicator / Issue Latest figure / status (2024–2025) Short context / notes Source(s)
Acutely malnourished children under age 5 (2024) More than 2.7 million children under five are acutely malnourished. Reflects scale of nutrition crisis across Yemen.
Stunting (chronic malnutrition) among under-5 children ~49% of children under 5 suffer stunting / chronic malnutrition. Stunting implies long-term physical and cognitive development risk.
Wasting / acute malnutrition surge (2024, in Government-controlled areas) Number of children under 5 suffering acute malnutrition rose 34% in one year; over 600,000 children affected, ~120,000 severely malnourished.
Conditions worsened due to disease outbreaks (cholera, measles), water & food insecurity, economic collapse.
Recent treatment numbers (first half 2025) 166,327 children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) admitted for outpatient treatment — from a screening of ~2,851,821 under-5 children.
Important but treatment far below total need; many children remain untreated or at risk.
Population food insecurity (2025) ~ 17–17.1 million people projected to face food insecurity in 2025.
Food insecurity among adults and children — many households can’t afford adequate food.
People in need of various humanitarian services (2025) ~17.8 million people need health assistance; ~7.7 million need nutrition assistance; ~7.4 million children need protection services; ~6.2 million children need education support; ~15.3 million lack access to safe water.
Crisis is multi-dimensional: nutrition, health, protection, education, and basic services all under severe strain.
Children out of school / education disruption (2025) ~ 3.7 million children (age 5–17) out of school.
The United Nations in Yemen
Many schools damaged, destroyed or inaccessible; lack of safe, stable learning environments.
The United Nations in Yemen
Risk & vulnerability issues for children Thousands of classrooms destroyed; children exposed to war-related risks; poor maternal & infant care due to malnutrition and health-system collapse.
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