Life-saving services at risk as humanitarian funding dries up in Yemen

Donors committed $2.6 billion to United Nations and humanitarian partners during a February pledging event. Less than half has been received.

UNFPA’s procurement of medicines has already stopped due to lack of funds. By the end of August, 100 of the 268 hospitals UNFPA currently supports were closed, and another 75 will be shuttered by the end of this month. The closures will directly affect some 650,000 women accessing reproductive health services, and more than 1 million would be at risk if all facilities close.

“Over 1 million Yemeni women need funds now, or they will lose access to life-saving reproductive health services, putting their lives and those of their babies at risk,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem.

Health staff remains determined to help the women and newborns in their charge, but the funding crisis leaves them concerned about the welfare of their colleagues as well as their patients.

Services for survivors of violence have also been affected. Fourteen safe spaces and four specialized mental health facilities for women have closed.

Of UNFPA’s 2019 appeal for the humanitarian response in Yemen totals $110 million, but only $38 million has been received. UNFPA is calling on donors to provide urgent funding to continue and restore life-saving reproductive health care and programmes that prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

Original source: UNFPA
Published on 06 September 2019