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Yemen is the world’s worst humanitarian crisis

Yemen is the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. As the conflict enters its fourth year, more than 22 million people – three-quarters of the population – need humanitarian aid and protection.

OVERVIEW

Since the uprisings in Yemen broke out in early 2011, the United Nations has been engaged, through the good offices of the Secretary-General, in helping Yemenis to find a peaceful solution.

YEMEN IN NUMBERS

Yemen: Profile of the Crisis as of March 2018

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen in the worst in the world. The impact on the population is devastating.

Poverty

  • 79% of the population is poor compared to 49% in 2017
  • GDP per capita has declined 61% in the last three years

People in Need

  • 75% of the population, 22 million people, need some form of humanitarian assistance and protection

Food Security

  • 60% of the population, 18 million people, are food insecure
  • 8.4 million people do not know how they will obtain their next meal

Health

  • Less than 50% of health facilities are functioning
  • 18% of districts have no doctors
  • 56% of the population, 16 million people, do not have regular access to basic health care

Water and sanitation

  • 55% of the population, 16 million people, do not have regular access to safe water and basic hygiene
  • 73% of the population does not have access to piped drinking water

Nutrition

  • 25% of population, 7.5 million people, need nutrition support and 50% of all children are stunted
  • 2.9 million children and women are acutely malnourished; the number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition has increased 90% in the last three years

Education

  • 48% of women are illiterate
  • 25% of children are out of school
  • 11% of schools are destroyed or used for other purposes

Gender

  • 72% of girls are married before the age of 18
  • 44% of marriages in hard-hit districts involve girls under the age of 15
  • Less than 50% of births are attended by skilled health personnel

Displacement

  • Two million people are displaced, 76% are women and children
  • One million people have returned to their home areas
  • Economy

1.25 million civil servants are not receiving salaries
Basic food prices have increased 98% and fuel 110% in the last three years
In hard-hit areas unemployment rates are as high as 50%