After years of conflict, Yemen remains the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, a UNFPA 2021 appeal shows

A new Humanitarian Action Overview report released by UNFPA names Yemen as the country where the needs of women and girls in humanitarian emergencies are greatest. Since the conflict escalated in 2015, conditions in the country have steadily collapsed, resulting in internal displacement, food insecurity, and cholera outbreaks — all exacerbated by COVID-19.

UNFPA’s report highlights the direst crises in the world and issues the organization’s largest ever humanitarian appeal. Globally, a total of $818 million is needed to deliver life-saving assistance to 54 million women, girls, and young people in 68 countries in 2021.

Some $100 million of this is needed for Yemen in 2021, where over 80 percent of the population requires some form of assistance. Among them are more than 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women who are acutely malnourished. Only half of Yemen’s health-care facilities remain operational, and gender-based violence is on the rise.

Despite years of unrelenting crisis, Yemen doesn’t always capture headlines. UNFPA’s humanitarian response for 2020 has been underfunded by tens of millions of dollars.

There is no easy remedy that can reverse the devastating consequences of grinding conflict. There is only work to do on the ground.

Since January, the UNFPA has reached nearly 3 million people in the country. And it will continue to safeguard the lives of women, girls, and young people.

Original source: UNFPA