Yemen continues to face a protracted humanitarian crisis marked by conflict, political fragmentation, economic collapse, and severe access constraints, with women and girls bearing a disproportionate share of the impact. Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and protection from gender-based violence (GBV) remain under acute strain as food insecurity, displacement, and the erosion of essential services intensify risks of maternal mortality, unintended pregnancies, and exposure to violence. Restrictions on humanitarian operations, particularly in the north, have further constrained the delivery of life-saving health and protection services at a time when needs are escalating.
Despite an increasingly restrictive operating environment, the response has continued to prioritize life-saving assistance. UNFPA supported essential SRH services through emergency obstetric and newborn care, community midwifery, family planning, and the provision of critical reproductive health supplies, alongside efforts to strengthen maternal death surveillance and health supply chains. GBV prevention and response remained central to operations, including case management, safe shelters, mental health and psychosocial support, and community-based prevention initiatives. Rapid response mechanisms were activated during new displacement to deliver emergency relief within tight timeframes, helping to mitigate immediate risks for affected populations.
The scale and continuity of this response have been significantly undermined by funding shortfalls. In 2025, UNFPA appealed for US$70 million to sustain critical support for women and girls under the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan, but only US$25.5 million was received by year’s end, leaving a funding gap of US$44.5 million. These cuts forced the scale-back of nearly 40 per cent of supported services, leaving close to two million women and girls without access to essential SRH and GBV care and contributing to preventable deaths where services were suspended.
