Over seven years of conflict, millions of people in Yemen have suffered the compounded effects of the war, ongoing economic crisis and disrupted public services. Escalating conflict in 2021 resulted in civilian casualties, increased displacement and further disruption of public services, pushing humanitarian needs higher. Yemen’s collapsing economy – itself a product of the conflict – exacerbated vulnerabilities among poor families. More than 23.4 million people – almost three-quarters of the population- need humanitarian assistance and protection in 2022; an increase of 13 per cent from what was already a frightening figure in 2021.
Prolonged conflict and the use of the economy as a tool of war have taken a devastating toll on Yemenis. A record 19 million people now need of food assistance. Extreme hunger looms for 161,000 people by the end of 2022. Children continue to stand front and center in this conflict as some 2.2 million are acutely malnourished, including nearly more than half a million children severely so. Their predicament is grim, as limited access to critical services continues to worsen the conditions of the most vulnerable groups, mostly women and children.