EU-supported IRC aid reaches 300,000 Yemenis as hunger crisis worsens

Aden, Yemen, March 26, 2026 - As Yemen enters its twelfth year of conflict, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warns that millions of people are facing worsening hunger and growing humanitarian needs, a trend outlined in its policy briefing "Starving in Silence: Surging Food Insecurity in Yemen".

With support from the European Union through its Humanitarian Aid Operations, the IRC has helped protect hundreds of thousands of people from the worst impacts of the crisis.

Over the past year, the EU-funded program reached more than 300,000 people with health, nutrition and protection services across Abyan, Al Dhale'e, Shabwah, and Ta'iz. More than 195,000 people accessed integrated services designed to help families cope with conflict, displacement, and rising food insecurity.

Caroline Sekyewa, IRC Country Director in Yemen, said:

"This EU-funded project shows what is possible when the international community steps up. Lives can be saved, children can recover from malnutrition, and families can rebuild dignity despite immense hardship.

But Yemen is now at a dangerous tipping point. Hunger is rising faster than the humanitarian response, and donors must urgently scale up support before this crisis spirals further out of control."

Health services remain a vital line of defense against the effects of hunger. IRC-supported facilities delivered more than 128,000 primary healthcare consultations, while community health workers screened over 39,000 children under five and pregnant or lactating women for malnutrition, enabling early detection and treatment.

The program also helped families respond to sudden shocks. Through rapid emergency response mechanisms, more than 83,000 people received urgent assistance following crises such as flooding, displacement, and disease outbreaks.

Ahmed Amin, a 26-year-old father displaced to Al-Makha district, described the impact of the assistance:

"During the floods, our mattresses and blankets would get soaked, and we spent the night sitting on wooden chairs. The support from IRC made a real difference; now we have dry beds and basic items for my children. It gives us hope that things can get better."

Despite these efforts, Yemen's humanitarian crisis continues to deepen. In 2026, over 18 million people-more than half the population-are expected to face worsening hunger, as one million more people have been pushed into life-threatening levels of food insecurity since September 2025.

Severe funding shortfalls are further compounding the crisis. By the end of 2025, the humanitarian response in Yemen was less than 25% funded, while life-saving nutrition programs received under 10% of required resources.

Now, without urgent additional funding, millions risk losing access to the health and nutrition services that prevent hunger from turning into life-threatening malnutrition.

About the IRC in Yemen

The International Rescue Committee has been working in Yemen since 2012 and significantly expanded its response in 2015 as humanitarian needs surged due to conflict, displacement and economic collapse. The IRC provides emergency assistance including health and nutrition services, economic recovery support, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programs, and protection services - particularly for women and children.

As a frontline responder, the IRC plays a critical role in supporting Yemen's health and WASH systems by strengthening local capacity, delivering integrated services and helping communities build resilience against future crises.

In 2024 alone, the IRC supported 1.7 million people, including more than one million women. The IRC works to ensure people affected by conflict and crisis - particularly women, girls and marginalized communities - can access life-saving services, meet their basic needs and rebuild their lives.

About EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid

The European Union and its Member States are among the world's leading donors of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by disasters and human-induced crises. Through the Directorate General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations of the European Commission, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the EU provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.