Participant plays on a slide outside one of War Child’s centres in Yemen.
Where we work

Yemen

The crisis in Yemen is one of the worst of our lifetime with 21.6 million people in urgent need of assistance, over half of whom are children.

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War Child has worked in Yemen since 2016 providing vital support to children.  

In Yemen, nine years of civil war and continued outbreaks of violence have left a staggering 21.6 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance while over 4.5 million people are internally displaced. 

While the fighting has substantially decreased since the truce in April 2022, the situation remains fragile. Local conflicts continue to break out over land, natural resources, and trade. Children’s lives are shattered by this violence, becoming casualties of landmines and leftover explosives.  

Families struggle to survive with widespread unemployment, a hunger crisis, and a lack of access to shelter, sanitation and healthcare. While children endure a perilous present, their futures remain uncertain as many struggle to access education, are recruited into armed groups and face sexual exploitation and abuse including early marriage. 

Scale of the challenge

  • 11200

    Children killed or maimed

  • 17.3 M

    People experience high levels of food insecurity

  • 2.7 M

    Children do not attend school

Our work in Yemen 

War Child has been operating in North Yemen since 2016 and was one of the first international NGOs to deliver programmes there. In Sana’a and Aden, we provide life-saving essentials to children and families who have lost their livelihoods due to the ongoing conflict, including cash relief and food. In recent years, we have expanded our programmes to include education and child protection initiatives throughout the country. Currently, War Child's programmes are running in the Sana’a and Ibb Governorates. 

Amina Noor and War Child member of staff walking together.
Photo taken by War Child
Thanks to War Child, I registered in school where I could draw and play with other girls. I feel better now and will continue participating in activities with my peers in the [War Child] safe space.
Amina Noor

War Child’s programmes include: 

Education  

We make schools safe and suitable for learning, providing school furniture and learning equipment, alongside professional development for teachers.  

We provide catch-up classes for out-of-school children so they can continue their education outside of traditional school settings.  

Mental Health Support 

We create child-friendly spaces where children can escape from their daily stresses. We also work with caregivers to help them support their children’s mental wellbeing at home.  

Child Protection 

We work with communities to identify and address child protection risks, and we provide specialist support to individual children who face threats to their safety and wellbeing.  

Access to Public Services 

We provide legal and ID documentation to children and families on the move so they can access public services including schools.  

Financial Support 

We deliver cash relief and vocational training to caregivers so they can support their families and their children can attend school.  

 

Project Focus – Yemen Emergency Response 

In 2023, Yemen’s humanitarian crisis continued to worsen leaving little hope for the many children suffering from malnutrition and vulnerable to exploitation. We knew we needed to take action to support the 12.4 million children who urgently needed humanitarian assistance. That’s why we accelerated our emergency response providing humanitarian aid, child protection, education support and cash transfers to the most vulnerable - with a focus on girls, women and children with disabilities.   

This crucial work continues in 2024 despite funding challenges.   

Yemeni girl smiles to the camera whilst colouring and drawing in a War Child child-friendly space in Yemen.
We won’t stop until every child living through conflict is safe from harm. 

But we can’t do it without you. 

Donate to War Child today and help us be there for children like Hamas in Yemen and other conflict zones around the world.

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