U.N. warns funding cuts will push Yemen toward famine in 2026

U.N. officials warned in Geneva that Yemen’s humanitarian crisis will deepen in 2026 as international funding falls sharply, pushing a fragile system toward potential famine, health-system collapse and wider displacement. Julien Harneis, the U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, told reporters that “the context is very concerning” and that “we are expecting things to be much worse in 2026,” adding bluntly that “children are dying and it’s going to get worse.”

Humanitarian planning and U.N. estimates underscore the scale of need. Harneis cited roughly 21 million people likely to require assistance in 2026, a rise from about 19.5 million the previous year. December 2025 planning documents placed people in need still higher at 23.1 million, with 10.5 million targeted for aid at launch. Those flash planning figures set overall requirements at roughly $2.5 billion, of which $1.4 billion was identified as urgently prioritized to reach 8.8 million people.

Food-security assessments paint a stark picture. Humanitarian analysts estimate 18.1 million people face acute food insecurity, including 1.6 million in emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4) and 41,000 at catastrophic levels (IPC Phase 5). The International Rescue Committee and IPC projections say Yemen now carries the world’s highest burden of Phase 4 food insecurity, with more than 148,000 people entering crisis or worse in 2025 and an additional 1 million projected to be at risk of IPC Phase 3+ in early 2026. The IRC warned on Jan. 19 that pockets of famine affecting over 40,000 people are expected in four districts within the coming two months.

Those humanitarian risks are being amplified by a sharp decline in donor support. Western donors cut aid in 2025, with the United States among those that “slashed” assistance as some governments shifted spending priorities toward defense. By the end of 2025 the response was reported to be less than 25% funded overall, while lifesaving nutrition assistance received under 10% of the required funding, according to the IRC. U.N. OCHA funding snapshots for 2026 show extremely limited opening balances and earmarked funds, with an example listing of total 2026 earmarked contributions around $166,800 and an opening balance of $0.

The funding shortfall has already produced operational consequences across Yemen. Since February 2025, defunding and a U.S. Foreign Terrorist Organization designation prompted some partners to withdraw from DFA-controlled areas; hundreds of health facilities have closed, leaving an estimated 8.41 million people with restricted access to basic care. Humanitarian actors estimate 2.5 million children under five face risk of acute malnutrition in 2026, including roughly 600,000 who could be severely malnourished. Waterborne disease outbreaks are resurging amid failing sanitation, and roughly 2.6 million children remain out of school as many teachers go unpaid.

The crisis is compounded by economic collapse, climate shocks including floods, political uncertainty and continuing conflict. OCHA reported escalations in the Red Sea and intensified air strikes since early 2025 that have caused hundreds of civilian casualties and damaged critical infrastructure. Recent fighting in southern and eastern governorates displaced at least 1,634 households from Hadramawt to Marib, and field reports continue to show long queues for water at internally displaced persons sites.

Humanitarian partners say immediate stabilization of food, nutrition and health services will require urgent funding that has not yet materialized. With needs rising and resources shrinking, the international community faces a consequential choice: increase support now or confront wider famine, a collapsing health system and renewed waves of displacement across Yemen.