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Country analysis

Yemen


The conflict between the Internationally Recognized Government of Yemen (IRG) and the Sana’a-based de-facto authority (DFA) in the north of Yemen (also known as the Houthis) since 2015 has resulted in a severe humanitarian and economic crisis. It has led to 18.6 million out of the 32 million people in Yemen needing humanitarian assistance and internally displaced 4.5 million.

On 2 April 2022, the conflict parties agreed to an UN-mediated truce, which expired in the same year on 2 October. Despite the non-extension of the truce, relatively large-scale conflict has not resumed, slightly improving the humanitarian conditions in the country.

Yemen has historically been divided socially and politically along tribal, ethnic, ideological, and religious lines. The current conflict has furthered this fragmentation, and two main areas of political and economic control have emerged. The DFA controls most of the northern and central governorates, while the IRG and the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council control southern Yemen.

Yemen is also a transit and destination country on the East African migration route to Saudi Arabia and other neighbouring countries, with around 308,000 migrants with irregular status and 72,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered in 2023. Most of them require humanitarian and protection assistance.

(OCHA 01/02/2024, MDP accessed 19/02/2024, CFR accessed 19/02/2024, UN 01/04/2022)

The conflict between the Internationally Recognized Government of Yemen (IRG) and the Sana’a-based de-facto authority (DFA) in the north of Yemen (also known as the Houthis) since 2015 has resulted in a severe humanitarian and economic crisis. It has led to 18.6 million out of the 32 million people in Yemen needing humanitarian assistance and internally displaced 4.5 million.

On 2 April 2022, the conflict parties agreed to an UN-mediated truce, which expired in the same year on 2 October. Despite the non-extension of the truce, relatively large-scale conflict has not resumed, slightly improving the humanitarian conditions in the country.

Yemen has historically been divided socially and politically along tribal, ethnic, ideological, and religious lines. The current conflict has furthered this fragmentation, and two main areas of political and economic control have emerged. The DFA controls most of the northern and central governorates, while the IRG and the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council control southern Yemen.

Yemen is also a transit and destination country on the East African migration route to Saudi Arabia and other neighbouring countries, with around 308,000 migrants with irregular status and 72,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered in 2023. Most of them require humanitarian and protection assistance.

(OCHA 01/02/2024, MDP accessed 19/02/2024, CFR accessed 19/02/2024, UN 01/04/2022)

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Latest updates on country situation

06 March 2024

Yemen continues to face high food insecurity levels, with 17.6 million people (more than half the population) projected to experience severe food insecurity classified as Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse in 2024. This is mainly a result of the economic crisis and the armed violence that erupted in 2014 between the Internationally Recognized Government of Yemen and the de-facto authority in the north of Yemen (also known as the Houthis). As at February 2024, more than 52% of households lacked access to adequate food, an 11% increase from November 2023. Some of the key factors that contributed to this deterioration include the rise in shipping costs via the Red Sea and the pause since December 2023 in WFP food assistance to the 9.5 million people in areas under Houthi control. (WFP 29/02/2024, WFP 18/01/2024, OCHA 01/02/2024)

13 December 2023

Around 17 million people, more than half of the population in Yemen, are facing acute food insecurity and need food assistance in 2023. This figure includes around 2.2 million children and 1.3 million pregnant and breastfeeding women. Over six million of these people are estimated to be facing Emergency (IPC Phase 4) food insecurity levels. Hajjah and Al Jawf in northern Yemen and Ta’iz in southwest Yemen are the most food-insecure governorates in the country. Food insecurity is highest among rural and non-agricultural households. High food insecurity levels across the country mostly result from the economic crisis and armed violence generated by the conflict that erupted in 2014 between the Internationally Recognized Government that controls southern Yemen and the de-facto authority in the north of Yemen (also known as the Houthis). (FAO 03/12/2023, WFP 07/12/2023, OCHA 20/12/2022)

24 October 2023

Floods and strong winds have displaced an estimated 7,200 people in Al Maharah governorate since Tropical Storm Tej made landfall on 23 October 2023. Damage and destruction to houses have led to shelter and food losses. The loss of livestock and crops is highly likely. There is a need for adequate shelter, NFIs, food, health, and WASH services, as most of the affected people remain in makeshift and temporary shelters. The Yemeni Red Crescent has announced being unable to reach the affected population in Al-Ghaydhah district in Al Maharah. Heavy rainfall and strong winds are forecast over Socotra Island in eastern Yemen and in neighbouring Oman. (Oman Observer 24/10/2023, Yemen Future 23/10/2023, Al-Mahra Post 23/10/2023, ECHO 23/10/2023)

30 August 2023

Numerous reports by the UN, human rights groups, and INGOs have indicated the mass and deliberate killing of hundreds of Ethiopian migrants and asylum seekers by Saudi border guards on the Yemen-Saudi Arabia border in the past year alone. The killings seem to be systematic, indiscriminate, and widespread, using snipers and explosives and shooting people at close range, including children and women. Yemen is a transit country on the East Africa migration route to Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Gulf region. In 2023, there has been an increase in the number of migrants and asylum seekers using this route. As at the end of July 2023, over 86,630 migrants arrived in Yemen. Presently, there are an estimated 750,000 Ethiopian migrants and asylum seekers in Saudi Arabia. Migrants arriving in Yemen experience gender-based violence, trafficking, and humanitarian needs such as shelter, basic needs, and protection. (HRW 21/08/2023,
Mixed Migration Center 05/07/2023,
Migration Data Portal 21/02/2022)

current crises
in Yemen


These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

YEM001 - Complex crisis

Last updated 29/02/2024


Drivers

Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

4.6 Very High

Access constraints

4.0

YEM002 - Mixed Migration

Last updated 29/02/2024


Drivers

Displacement

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

2.4 Medium

Access constraints

4.0

Analysis products
on Yemen

Yemen: Social impact monitoring project report - October 2023 to February 2024

28 March 2024

Yemen: Social impact monitoring project report - October 2023 to February 2024

DOCUMENT / PDF / 499 KB

This SIMP report identifies events and themes emerging in the Yemeni information landscape from October 2023 to February 2024, with a particular focus on those that had, or are likely to have, a social impact. Social impact is broadly defined as the effect of an action (or lack thereof) or event on people and communities. 

Yemen: increased DFA intervention in the private sector in DFA-controlled areas

29 February 2024

Yemen: increased DFA intervention in the private sector in DFA-controlled areas

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1 MB

This analysis provides an overview of the DFA’s interventions in the private sector in 2022–2023, with a focus on import trade, the finance sector, and private sector governance. 

Economy
Yemen: coping strategies in al Habilin and Al Jiblah

09 February 2024

Yemen: coping strategies in al Habilin and Al Jiblah

DOCUMENT / PDF / 2 MB

This report aims to strengthen humanitarian programming by providing humanitarian decision makers and responders with an understanding of the strategies households in al Habilin and Al Jiblah use to meet their needs.

Coping mechanisms
Yemen: conflict drivers and gendered impact

02 February 2024

Yemen: conflict drivers and gendered impact

DOCUMENT / PDF / 2 MB

This report seeks to considers the differentiated impacts of the conflict on women, men, girls, and boys, how these impacts are linked to the drivers of the conflict, and how they interplay with key features of the context. 

Conflict and violenceGender
Yemen: import flows following the escalation in the Red Sea

19 January 2024

Yemen: import flows following the escalation in the Red Sea

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1 MB

This flash analysis aims to provide up to date data on food and fuel imports flows into Yemen in the context of the escalation in the Red Sea following attacks from the DFA against Israeli or Israel-bound vessels, and USA and UK linked ships, since November 2023 and the US-UK airstrikes in response against DFA air defence and missile sites in January 2024.
 

Conflict and violenceEconomyFood security & livelihoods
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