Yemen: Life-saving nutrition for women and children

While similar crises fight for the world’s attention, millions of children and mothers in Yemen are fighting for their lives in the shadows. Medair is responding with life-saving nutrition services.

A glimpse into Yemen

Yemen is in a state of collapse. Since 2015, active conflict has displaced 4.5 million people and left the majority of Yemenis in need of humanitarian assistance. People can no longer access life’s basic necessities – health care, safe water and sanitation, and enough food to eat each day. As a result, millions of children have become malnourished and need urgent help to survive.

70%

Percentage of people who need humanitarian assistance

17.4 million

People do not have enough food to eat each day

2.2 million

Children are acutely malnourished and need support

People are at the centre of all we do

Here’s what they have to say about us.

"I couldn’t afford to travel to the hospital, and we didn’t have the money to buy medicine. When my neighbour told me about Medair’s mobile medical clinic, I had a glimmer of hope. They took great care of my daughter.”

Amal
Mother to Fatima, southern Yemen

Medair's impact in Yemen

We support several health facilities and nutrition clinics responding to the needs in the south of Yemen. But not everyone is able to access them because of the distance, rough terrain, insecurity, and cultural barriers that discourage women from seeking health care. In response, Medair’s mobile medical teams travel great distances to bring health and nutrition to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and their children in rural communities and camps.

89,147

People received direct assistance in 2022

70,846

People cared for at a Medair-supported clinic

4,913

People treated for acute malnutrition

Latest updates on Yemen

Browse the latest updates and stories on the field.

From dust to dreams: the miracle of the water project

How a water project transforms a deserted village to a bustling community

Going the extra mile a day in the life of the mobile outreach team

In the Al Dhale’e Governorate, in the southwest of Yemen, every day can be a fight for survival. Almost half of the healthcare facilities in the district are inoperative or run at a reduced capacity. This is because of reduced staffing and a lack of essential medicines and supplies, and urgent action needed. In the remote mountainous areas of Al Dhale’e, people live in particularly hard conditions, travelling long distances to receive healthcare. The downfall of the economy has placed additional pressure on Yemenis.

Anood The Junior BCC Officer

An eager young girl who endeavours to increase community awareness about the importance of hygiene while cleaning the camp with her friends.

We Are All Human

Water in Yemen is scarce. Less than half of the population, and less than ten per cent of internally displaced persons in Yemen have access to safe water and sanitation1. We had weak infrastructure prior to the war. Now, during and after the conflict, we have damaged infrastructure that has affected access to water and sanitation across the country.

When Water Bends Bones

In a mountainous region of Yemen, water weakens bones. It deforms. It causes life-changing health concerns and financial burdens. It is one more tragedy for the Yemeni people who have already been through the unfathomable.

How solar power transforms access to water in Yemen

In Yemen, water is scarce. Before the current conflict, Yemen was considered one of the world’s most severely water-stressed countries. This situation has worsened. Less than half of the population has access to a clean water source, with severe effects on people’s health, agriculture, and livelihoods. For many communities in Yemen, drinking unsafe water is the only choice, as safe drinking water is inaccessible and unaffordable.

From a shack to a health unit

Bringing health and nutrition to a mountain village in Yemen

Give with confidence.

We partner generously with foundations, individuals, governments, and corporations to scale our impact.

Donate to make a difference for families in Yemen

Thereare so many ways your gift will make a meaningful difference. Your support willprovide treatment for malnourished children, empower women, educate communitieson health, hygiene, and nutrition, and ensure access to safe watersources. 

We work together for life and hope

Thanks to the compassion and generosity of our donors, volunteers, corporate partners, and foundations, we are able to restore life and hope in the world’s hardest-to-reach places.
Africa
Chad
Over 800,000 people are fleeing across the border. This massive influx is placing immense pressure on already strained resources. With limited support for refugees, Medair is on the ground providing essential WASH and Nutrition assistance.
Europe & Central asia
Yemen
While similar crises fight for the world’s attention, millions of children and mothers in Yemen are fighting for their lives in the shadows. Medair is responding with life-saving nutrition services.
Europe & Central asia
Ukraine
When conflict erupted in 2022 and sent millions of families fleeing for their lives, Medair was there within days to welcome them with open arms and meaningful support.
Europe & Central asia
Syria
More than 12 years of conflict and a deadly earthquake in 2023 have had devastating effects on communities in Syria. But we are determined to help rebuild by restoring health services, safe water sources, and shelters for those in desperate
Africa
Sudan
Violent clashes erupted once again in April 2023 around the capital, Khartoum. A staggering 4 million people fled their homes in just the first 100 days. Now, Sudan is once again in a full-blown humanitarian crisis and needs support to surv
Africa
South Sudan
When the road stops, we keep going. Our teams travel by boat, canoe and plane to the most isolated and hardest-to-reach communities in South Sudan, cut off from vital services like health care, nutrition, and water.
Africa
Somalia
Medair has been responding to crises in Somalia since 2008, helping some of the most isolated communities access health care and safe water and protecting women and children from violence.
Europe & Central asia
Lebanon
Since the beginning of the Syrian Crisis, Medair has been a lifeline to Syrian refugees in Lebanon as they struggle to rebuild their lives after surviving a civil war. We care for families by helping them meet their most urgent needs.
Europe & Central asia
Afghanistan
Medair has been responding to the effects of crisis in Afghanistan since 1996. While the country remains in crisis today, we do not lose hope for a peaceful and flourishing future for the people of Afghanistan.
Africa
DR Congo
After decades of instability, DR Congo is still in the throes of crisis. Yet, Medair has stayed the course for more than 25 years to help save lives and strengthen communities.
Africa
Madagascar
Since 2002, Medair has helped communities in Madagascar strengthen their resilience to climate disasters while helping to improve and restore access to safe drinking water.
Africa
Kenya
The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst drought in more than 40 years. Medair’s nutrition outreach teams are travelling to northern Kenya’s most remote villages to save lives from malnutrition and disease.
Europe & Central asia
Jordan
Since the beginning of the Syrian Crisis, Medair has been a lifeline to Syrian refugees in Jordan as they struggle to rebuild their lives from the ground up.
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Africa

Chad

Over 800,000 people are fleeing across the border. This massive influx is placing immense pressure on already strained resources. With limited support for refugees, Medair is on the ground providing essential WASH and Nutrition assistance.

DR Congo

After decades of instability, DR Congo is still in the throes of crisis. Yet, Medair has stayed the course for more than 25 years to help save lives and strengthen communities.

Kenya

The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst drought in more than 40 years. Medair’s nutrition outreach teams are travelling to northern Kenya’s most remote villages to save lives from malnutrition and disease.

Madagascar

Since 2002, Medair has helped communities in Madagascar strengthen their resilience to climate disasters while helping to improve and restore access to safe drinking water.

Somalia

Medair has been responding to crises in Somalia since 2008, helping some of the most isolated communities access health care and safe water and protecting women and children from violence.

South Sudan

When the road stops, we keep going. Our teams travel by boat, canoe and plane to the most isolated and hardest-to-reach communities in South Sudan, cut off from vital services like health care, nutrition, and water.

Sudan

Violent clashes erupted once again in April 2023 around the capital, Khartoum. A staggering 4 million people fled their homes in just the first 100 days. Now, Sudan is once again in a full-blown humanitarian crisis and needs support to surv

America

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Asia

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Europe & Central asia

Afghanistan

Medair has been responding to the effects of crisis in Afghanistan since 1996. While the country remains in crisis today, we do not lose hope for a peaceful and flourishing future for the people of Afghanistan.

Jordan

Since the beginning of the Syrian Crisis, Medair has been a lifeline to Syrian refugees in Jordan as they struggle to rebuild their lives from the ground up.

Lebanon

Since the beginning of the Syrian Crisis, Medair has been a lifeline to Syrian refugees in Lebanon as they struggle to rebuild their lives after surviving a civil war. We care for families by helping them meet their most urgent needs.

Syria

More than 12 years of conflict and a deadly earthquake in 2023 have had devastating effects on communities in Syria. But we are determined to help rebuild by restoring health services, safe water sources, and shelters for those in desperate

Ukraine

When conflict erupted in 2022 and sent millions of families fleeing for their lives, Medair was there within days to welcome them with open arms and meaningful support.

Yemen

While similar crises fight for the world’s attention, millions of children and mothers in Yemen are fighting for their lives in the shadows. Medair is responding with life-saving nutrition services.

Oceania

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Past countries

Albania

Medair worked in Albania in 1998 and 1999.

Angola

Medair's engagement in Angola occurred in 2002 and later in 2018-2019.

Armenia

Medair extended support to Armenia in 1993 and 1994.

Bangladesh

Medair operated in Bangladesh in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2018, and 2019.

Central African Republic (C.A.R.)

Medair operated in C.A.R. in 2014.

Chechnya

Medair operated in Chechnya in 1995, 1996, and 2004.

Ecuador

Medair operated in Ecuador in 2016.

Haiti

Medair worked in Haiti from 2008 to 2009, 2010 to 2012, and 2016.

Honduras

Medair provided assistance in Honduras in 2020

India

Medair provided assistance in India in 2001.

Indonesia

Medair operated in Indonesia from 2006 to 2007 and later from 2008 to 2009, 2010 to 2012, and 2018.

Ingushetia

Medair provided assistance in Ingushetia in 1996.

Iran

Medair provided assistance in Iran in 2003.

Iraq

Medair provided assistance in Iraq in 1991, 1992, 2014

Kosovo

Medair operated in Kosovo in 1998 and 1999.

Liberia

Medair worked in Liberia in 1991.

Mozambique

Medair has been active in Mozambique since 2000, with ongoing operations until 2019.

Myanmar

Medair worked in Myanmar in 2016.

Nepal

Medair worked in Nepal from 2014 to 2015 and later in 2016 and 2018.

North Ossetia

Medair was involved in North Ossetia in 1995 and later in 2004.

Pakistan

Medair's involvement in Pakistan spans from 2005 to 2007 and later from 2016 to 2017.

Philippines

Medair started working in the Philippines in 2013 and has ongoing operations.

Rwanda

Medair provided assistance in Rwanda in 1994.

Sierra Leone

Medair provided assistance in Sierra Leone from 2014 to 2015.

Sri Lanka

Medair worked in Sri Lanka in 2004.

Turkiye

Medair began providing humanitarian aid in Turkiye after the earthquakes in 2023.

Uganda

Medair started working in Uganda in 1989, with operations continuing until 1990. We returned in 2000 and operated until 2003.

Vanuatu

Medair provided assistance in Vanuatu in 2015.

Zimbabwe

Medair operated in Zimbabwe in 2002, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011-2012.