Yemen enters 2026 in an increasingly complex operating environment, shaped also by severe funding constraints and a system-wide reform agenda. 

Millions of people continue to face dire humanitarian conditions, struggling to meet basic needs and access essential services amid protracted crisis, conflict-induced economic deterioration, displacement and climate-related shocks. 

As coping mechanisms erode, households are becoming more exposed to hunger, preventable diseases and protection risks, with vulnerable and marginalized groups. A highly challenging operational environment in de facto authorities-controlled areas in 2025 particularly affecting UN actors, and substantial funding reductions, led to UN scaling back critical life-saving programmes in the final months of the year.

Acute food insecurity remains alarming: 18.3 million people are acutely food insecure, and the latest integrated phase classification analysis indicates further deterioration, including districts shifting from crisis to emergency levels, and pockets of catastrophic conditions affecting some of the most fragile communities. 

Malnutrition levels remain critically high, with more than 2.2 million children under five acutely malnourished. An additional 1.3 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are also expected to be malnourished. In 2026, 14.4 million people are expected to require wash, sanitation and hygiene assistance. Essential services remain under severe strain, with only 59.3 per cent of health facilities fully functional, complete vaccination coverage at 63 per cent, and Yemen continuing to face a high burden of epidemic-prone diseases.

The UN and partners need US$2.16 billion to reach 12 million people in 2026, including 9.4 million people prioritized for targeted assistance based on severity. The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan aims to support prioritized life-saving interventions across sectors for the most vulnerable. As needs intensify, sustained and flexible funding will be critical to prevent further deterioration and support timely, prioritized assistance in the areas of greatest severity.