Yemen’s healthcare crisis endangers mothers and newborns

Yemen’s healthcare crisis endangers mothers and newborns

More than half of births in Yemen take place in unsafe conditions a report from the The United Nations Population Fund has found, Asharq Al-Awsat reported on February 3rd.

In its Yemen Situation Report, The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said that only 45% of births in Yemen are attended by trained medical personnel. The report also highlighted a high burden of cholera and healthcare system struggles.

Over half of Yemen’s population now requires humanitarian assistance, UNFPA said, attributing the crisis to the decline of public services and economic instability. The worsening conditions have led to increased child marriage and displacement, with climate shocks forcing nearly half a million people to leave their homes in 2024.

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Humanitarian efforts remain restricted due to access limitations, particularly for female aid workers in areas controlled by the Houthis. The report also mentioned that security concerns hinder humanitarian efforts.

UNFPA said it is responding to Yemen’s reproductive health crisis by supplying health facilities with reproductive health commodities, medicines, cash assistance and equipment. The agency has also provided incentives for healthcare workers and rehabilitated healthcare facilities damaged by flooding.

“We continue to support health institutes with training for students and midwives and have deployed mobile clinics to provide an integrated package of reproductive health services in remote and underserved areas,” UNFPA said.

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In an effort to improve access to care, UNFPA is supporting midwives operating in home-based clinics and giving treatment for women suffering from obstetric fistula. The fund reported providing services to nearly 11,000 women through multisectoral support programmes, established nine new women and girls’ safe spaces and supported eight shelters. They have reached over 110,000 individuals through awareness-raising sessions and carried out six community dialogues.

In addition to addressing reproductive health needs, UNFPA has been advocating for the prevention of female genital mutilation and has given mental health services to over 150,000 people. The fund has reached over 121,000 young people, providing reproductive health information and services.

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The UN and its partners introduced the 2025 Yemen Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, Asharq Al-Awsat reported on January 21st. The plan called for urgent humanitarian aid and protection for over 10 million Yemenis. Roughly half the population—over 17 million people—cannot reach their basic food needs, with marginalised groups and displaced communities bearing the brunt of the crisis.

Asharq Al-Awsat

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