UN calls for $2.5 billion to support its humanitarian plan in Yemen for next year

The United Nations said on Wednesday that it needs $2.5 billion to support the humanitarian response plan in Yemen during the coming year 2025.

This came in a statement issued by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in its overview of humanitarian work during the coming year.

The statement said, "After ten years of conflict, Yemen faces a severe humanitarian and protection crisis exacerbated by recurring economic shocks, poor basic services, climate risks, regional conflict, and chronic underfunding."

“Living conditions for most Yemenis will remain dire in 2025. Limited livelihood opportunities and declining purchasing power are expected to deepen social and economic instability,” he added.

The statement continued, "The humanitarian response plan in Yemen for next year is expected to require $2.5 billion to help save lives and provide protection services."

The statement indicated that 19.54 million people in Yemen need assistance over the coming year, including 17 million people (49 percent of the population) who will face severe food insecurity, with 5 million people suffering from (emergency) conditions. Acute malnutrition will affect about 3.5 million people, including more than 500,000 people suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

Regarding the priorities of the response plan for next year, OCHA explained that it gives priority to life-saving and sustainable activities in Yemen, supported by strong prioritization, and will focus "on improving targeted interventions and responding to address evolving needs, the operational environment, and limited capacities."

She added that partners will work to ensure that the most vulnerable groups are included in both the design and delivery of assistance, with protection being integrated into all activities, with a focus on integrating responses in areas of greatest need, and maintaining flexibility in dealing with emergencies.

Yemen is witnessing one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world, due to the war that has been ongoing in the country for ten years, according to United Nations estimates.