This month marks a harrowing 10 years of crisis in Yemen, during which time its people have weathered the worst cholera outbreak in modern history, malnutrition and severe economic decline. As conditions continue to deteriorate, Islamic Relief remains steadfast in our commitment to providing lifesaving and life changing support to vulnerable people in Yemen.
Yemen was already the poorest country in the Middle East before the crisis escalated sharply in March 2015. Now, an estimated 19.5 million Yemenis need humanitarian aid just to survive.
Almost half of the population do not know where their next meal is coming from, and many have lost their livelihood. The collapsed currency has pushed the price of basic necessities, such as bread, beyond the reach of many families, and Yemen is again teetering on the brink of famine.
Supporting Yemen’s orphaned children
Islamic Relief has been working in Yemen since 1998 and ramped up our response in 2015 to meet the growing needs on the ground, launching a global crisis appeal to raise £10 million.
For the last decade, our dedicated team has supported over 27 million Yemenis through emergency responses as well as a wide range of development interventions targeting areas such as healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene, and livelihoods. These programmes have run alongside seasonal food distributions and our Orphan Sponsorship Programme (OSP).
More than 8,300 children in Yemen are supported through the OSP. This is the second largest number of orphaned children enrolled in the OSP after Gaza. The crisis has taken the lives of many parents, leaving their children bereft and more vulnerable to the crisis around them.
Children enrolled in the programme receive a monthly stipend, allowing them to pay for school items, medical support and other essentials. Families of orphaned children also benefit from our seasonal distributions, including Ramadan, Korban (qurbani) and winter distributions.
A lifeline to families in crisis
Our dedicated team works across 9 governorates, supporting families even in the most remote areas.
We are deeply grateful to our donors, without whose generosity none of this work would be possible, and to our partners who have helped us to reach even more people across Yemen. It is because of this tremendous support that we can remain by the sides of Yemenis in need.
In 2024, we distributed qurbani food packs to 11,576 families in Yemen
“We are proud that Islamic Relief has remained steadfast in its support of the Yemeni people over the last 10 years, a support which is only made possible by generous donors around the world,” says Siddiq Khan, Yemen’s Country Director
“Yemen’s ongoing crisis has devastated its economy, destroyed infrastructure and severely impeded access to basic services. In this challenging context, we have continued to work tirelessly to reduce suffering, prevent disease outbreaks and deliver aid as transparently and effectively as possible.
“While millions of people benefit from humanitarian assistance, millions more are left behind facing hunger, violence and disease. The people of Yemen desperately need more aid.”
In 2024 we provided nutritional treatment to over 10,000 vulnerable people, including pregnant women and children under 5
While this crisis may have slipped from global headlines, men, women and children in Yemen are still struggling to survive and in desperate need of our support.
With your help, Islamic Relief can continue to support the people of Yemen. Please donate to our Yemen Emergency Appeal today.