The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is spiraling out of control, with a staggering number of people facing hunger, including extreme conditions, and the United Nations’ ability to deliver aid severely hampered by ongoing conflict, funding shortages, and arbitrary detentions. This was the stark warning delivered on Monday by UN relief chief Tom Fletcher during a briefing to the UN Security Council.
Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, painted a grim picture of the situation in Yemen, now ranked as the third most food insecure country globally, with more than 40,000 people in catastrophic levels of food insecurity.
He revealed that an additional 1 million people are expected to be pushed into crisis levels of hunger or worse before February 2026, which would bring the total number of Yemenis struggling with insufficient food from 17 to 18 million.
“Seventy percent of households in Yemen do not have enough food to meet their daily needs – this is the highest rate ever recorded,” Fletcher said.
“Nearly half of the population in the country are now suffering severe food deprivation – a jump from 36 percent only a year ago. One in three families is experiencing moderate to severe hunger.”
He added that in one out of five households, “someone goes a full day and night without any food at all”.
"This reporting confirms our worst fears," Fletcher stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Humanitarian efforts under pressure
Despite major challenges including funding cuts and a dangerous operating environment, humanitarian organizations are working tirelessly on the ground.
Fletcher highlighted successful interventions in Hajjah, Amran, and Marib where aid has been delivered through cash support, food distributions, clean water supplies, and vital health services for malnourished children, pregnant women, and new mothers.
However, the Emergency Relief Coordinator stressed that these efforts are simply not enough to meet the overwhelming need.
“An increasingly difficult operating environment is preventing us from reaching those in need or saving enough lives and funding cuts are also costing lives,” he said.
“For example, and in addition to the food insecurity crisis, 2 million women and girls have lost access to reproductive health services in a reality where a woman already dies every two hours during pregnancy.”
Escalating hostilities and detention crisis
The briefing was particularly focused on the increasingly difficult operating environment for humanitarian workers. Fletcher expressed grave cone over recent air strikes in Sanaa and Al Jawf which resulted reportedly in over 300 casualties and damaged critical infrastructure.
“International humanitarian law must be respected; civilians and civilian objects must be protected”; he emphasized.
Another major point of concern is the escalating detention crisis. Since August 31, another 22 UN staff have been detained by Houthi de facto authorities, bringing the total number of detained UN personnel to 44. This is in addition to dozens of NGO workers, civil society members and diplomatic staff also being held.
"The arbitrary detention of now 44 UN staff, the forcible entry of UN offices and the seizure of equipment – all of that undermines our ability to continue to deliver at scale," Fletcher said.
He urged the Security Council to use its influence to secure the immediate release of all detainees and ensure the protection of humanitarian personnel.
“We have a duty to our staff to take every reasonable measure to mitigate these escalating risks that they face. And we now face tough choices about how to strike the right balance between that protection and the vital life-saving work that we do on your behalf,” he added.
Fletcher expressed outrage that at a time when humanitarians are trying to serve Yemenis while “beset by funding cuts”, that “our operational capacity is being further and needlessly jeopardized.”
“Detaining humanitarian staff does not help the people of Yemen. It does not feed the hungry, heal the sick, nor protect those displaced by floods or fighting. UN and humanitarian personnel must be protected to do their jobs and to save lives,” he stressed.
Three Urgent Calls to Action
Concluding his briefing, Fletcher issued three clear calls to action for the Security Council. He demanded the immediate release of all detained colleagues, the return of UN compounds seized by security forces, and increased funding for humanitarian response efforts focused on food insecurity and malnutrition.
He warned that “we must not allow mass hunger to define the future of Yemen.”
As the situation in Yemen remains precarious, Fletcher’s warning serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for concerted action to prevent further suffering and secure a more stable future for the Yemeni people.
“The people of Yemen, wherever they may live, must receive the humanitarian aid that they need,” the UN relief chief said.
For his part, Hans Grundberg, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, reported that in recent weeks he held discussions with Yemeni interlocutors, including from the Government of Yemen and Ansar Allah, the official name of the Houthi.
He also met with representatives of regional countries, as well as representatives of the broader international community. Grundberg emphasized the importance of a nationwide ceasefire and an inclusive political process.
One of the world’s most neglected humanitarian emergencies
After over a decade of conflict, Yemen remains one of the world’s most neglected humanitarian emergencies. The ongoing civil war, now in its eleventh year, has left millions displaced, and food systems shattered, while aid organizations remain chronically underfunded.
Women and children continue to bear the brunt of the crisis. In some areas, the situation has already turned catastrophic, with people dying from lack of food, nutrition support, and live-saving health services.
As of today, only 19 percent of Yemen’s 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan has been funded, which significantly hinders the reach of critical, life-saving programs. More than 19 million people in the country require humanitarian assistance. In addition to women and children, internally displaced persons, people with disabilities, migrants, and refugees are among the most vulnerable.
In the first eight months of this year, humanitarian organizations around the world experienced an abrupt and unprecedented drop in their funding due to extreme reductions imposed by the United States, and other major donors. Yemen has been profoundly impacted by this devastating development.
The drastic reduction in funding has forced relief agencies to scale back critical programming, leaving millions of people without life-saving support. The ongoing conflict, economic collapse, and disease outbreaks are fueling humanitarian needs.
In addition, Yemen is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and one of the least prepared for climate shocks. The country is on the front lines of the global climate crisis, with recurring natural disasters, such as floods and severe droughts, threatening people's lives, health, and well-being.
Extreme weather events related to climate change are growing more unpredictable and severe. The most prevalent is flooding, which typically occurs during the Kharif rainy season from July to September. Heavy rains during this season often cause flash floods, resulting in significant damage and loss to communities, as well as major displacement.