Supplying H2O to Displaced Individuals within Yemen
In the war-torn nation of Yemen, the humanitarian situation remains one of the most critical in the world. Organisations such as Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and People In Need (PIN) are working together to improve the living conditions of internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Lahij governorate in southwest Yemen.
Their efforts focus significantly on access to clean water, hygiene, nutrition, and infrastructure repair. However, these initiatives face severe challenges due to ongoing conflict, economic deterioration, and limited humanitarian access.
Access to Clean Water and Hygiene
Over half of Yemen's population, including millions of IDPs, lack safe drinking water and reliable sanitation. IDPs in camps often rely on distant wells, forcing children to spend hours fetching water, which negatively impacts their schooling and health. To address this issue, WHH and PIN have restored a drinking water well in Al-Anad, allowing people to access clean water. Solar panels are installed to ensure the functioning of water pumps in the repaired water wells.
Nutrition and Food Security
Yemen faces extreme food insecurity, with nearly half the population (17–18 million people) in Crisis or Emergency food insecurity phases. IDPs are among the most affected groups experiencing acute malnutrition, especially children under five. To combat this, WHH and PIN offer nutrition courses on how to provide the right nutrients for children and provide emergency food and nutrition support.
Infrastructure Repair and Living Conditions
The fragile political and security environment, compounded by the regional turmoil and ongoing conflict, severely limits rehabilitation of essential infrastructure such as sanitation, health facilities, and housing for IDPs. In addition to supplying private households, WHH and PIN also improve the sanitary facilities of schools and hospitals in regions with large numbers of internally displaced persons. They train residents in the long term to maintain and service the new facilities themselves, including regular water quality checks.
Key Challenges
The protracted war and interference by armed groups like the Houthis obstruct humanitarian access and scale-up of interventions. Economic collapse has drastically reduced purchasing power and heightened food insecurity. Limited funding and operational restrictions, such as the US government halting funding for some agencies in northern Yemen, reduce the coverage and effectiveness of aid programs.
Ongoing Needs and Calls to Action
Increased humanitarian funding and continuity of food, water, nutrition, and health interventions are urgently needed to stave off worsening conditions and famine risks. Political dialogue and a ceasefire are emphasized as essential for creating a sustainable environment where living conditions can improve through infrastructure repair, economic recovery, and reliable service delivery.
With your help, WHH provides humanitarian aid for people in need worldwide. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by crises like the one in Yemen.
[1] UNICEF (2021). Yemen: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/yemen/61183_120059.html [2] World Food Programme (2021). Yemen: Emergency Food Security and Nutrition Assessment. Retrieved from https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/yemen [3] OCHA (2021). Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan 2021. Retrieved from https://www.unocha.org/yemen-humanitarian-response-plan-2021 [4] International Rescue Committee (2021). Yemen Crisis: What You Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.rescue.org/emergencies/yemen-crisis [5] UNOCHA (2021). Yemen: Humanitarian Needs Overview 2021. Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-humanitarian-needs-overview-2021
The humanitarian organizations, Welthungerhilfe (WHH) and People In Need (PIN), focus on improving access to clean water, nutrition, and infrastructure repair for internally displaced people (IDPs) in Yemen. To support a health-and-wellness lifestyle for IDPs in the Lahij governorate, they offer nutrition courses, emergency food and nutrition support, and provide maintenance training for newly repaired sanitary facilities.
