A child in Yemen dies every 13 minutes

Children in Yemen are facing deadly threats from malnutrition, disease and a decade of war. Almost 11 million children urgently need help – a child now dies every 13 minutes from preventable causes.

Half of all young children are acutely malnourished, with 537,000 severely affected. They are starving, sick, and scared. Schools and hospitals lie in ruins. Cholera is surging again, with more than 250,000 cases in 2024. Over 2 million children have fled their homes and now live in unsafe, unsanitary camps.

They are being forced into labour, child marriage, and armed groups. Four children are killed or injured every day as a result of the conflict. The devastation from these combined threats have plunged over 80% of the population into poverty. The crisis is growing – but the headlines have moved on and millions of vulnerable children are at risk of being forgotten.

You can change that. UNICEF is providing immediate aid and supporting long-term projects to address Yemen’s complex needs. Your support today can reach Yemen’s children before it’s too late.

Half of all children in Yemen are not getting enough food – they are at risk from deadly diseases and permanent, long-term damage without urgent help.

Support UNICEF today – because half of young children are suffering from deadly hunger

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UNICEF staff measure Kiara’s arm circumference, which shows she has a deadly form of malnutrition and will need consistent support for months to come.

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One meal a day means no future tomorrow – unless we act now

6-month-old Kiara only eats twice a day. Mukhlisah, aged 2, only eats once.

This is the terrible suffering children in Yemen face every day. Eating so little, and so rarely, has devastating consequences.

Kiara developed severe diarrhoea and a persistent fever. When her mum rushed her to one of the few functioning health centres, she was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. This meant she was at risk of dying. And even if she survived, she’d risk permanent damage that would stay with her into adulthood.

Thankfully, she received nourishing ready-to-use therapeutic food from UNICEF and a measles vaccination. With ongoing care, provided by UNICEF supporters, she can escaped long-term negative health effects.

Two-year-old Mukhlisah also needs saved from the horrors of malnutrition. She is cared for by her aunt, who said Mukhlisah “often sleeps without having dinner”, eats only rice or bread and that her face had become gaunt. She needs immediate treatment. 

You can help children like Mukhlisah now. You can save them from a terrible fate and relive their family from unbearable suffering. 

How is the crisis affecting children?

1 in every 2 children are acutely malnourished and 537,000 are suffering from the most severe form of hunger.  

Over 41,000 children died in just one year in Yemen, mainly from preventable causes.

2 million children have been forced to flee their homes due to violent conflict and move into temporary camps.

10.8 million children need urgent help

Thanks to supporters like you, UNICEF is saving children’s lives in Yemen every day.

With your help, UNICEF treated 432,000 children suffering from deadly severe acute malnutrition last year – providing them with ongoing monthly support.

And through assistance to 3,200 healthcare facilities, 7.6 million people, including 580,000 children, received vital health services.

Access to clean water and sanitation reached 1.2 million people, while over 49,600 teachers were empowered to keep classrooms open. Reconstruction of 1,100 schools is underway, ensuring children can continue learning despite the conflict.

UNICEF also delivered emergency cash assistance to 9.6 million vulnerable individuals, helping families survive during their darkest hours. Our nutrition programme shows real success with a 92% cure rate for child wasting – but urgent needs remain.

Millions of children are still going hungry. They still lack access to healthcare and essential nutrients they need to grow up healthy. 

With your support, we can close these gaps and protect even more lives. Yemen’s children deserve a healthier future – you can help make it happen.

 

Farah eats some therapeutic food provided by UNICEF.

Save children in Yemen before it’s too late

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Thanks to UNICEF supporters, Kiara is receiving the monthly support she needs to grow up healthy

How you can save children in Yemen now

Your support for UNICEF will reach children living in the worst conditions and transform their lives.

  • €75 can give vitamin-enriched biscuits to prevent 25 children from developing malnutrition.
  • €100 can provide protein-rich peanut paste to treat 40 children for severe acute malnutrition.
  • €250 can give enough therapeutic milk to help feed 15 babies who are too weak to eat.

Alternatively, a smaller monthly donation will have the greatest impact, allowing long-term support, and ensuring UNICEF can be there during and after the crisis in Yemen. 

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Other Ways to Donate

You can make a donation by phone by calling 01 878 3000, from Monday to Friday between 9:00 – 5:30pm.

You can send your donation by post to

Freepost; UNICEF Ireland, 33 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin D01 R283.

In the unlikely event that the funds raised exceed UNICEF’s funding requirements for this appeal, your donation will be directed to where the need is greatest.

Help protect children