Yemen’s food security crisis has reached an unprecedented level, with nearly 5 million people in government-controlled areas facing acute food insecurity.
The crisis is driven by a combination of factors, including a collapsing economy, currency depreciation and soaring food prices. Ongoing conflict and climate shocks, such as extreme heat and below-average rainfall, further threaten agricultural livelihoods. The most vulnerable populations, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), marginalized groups, women, and children, are disproportionately affected. To make matters worse, only 9% of the national 2025 humanitarian response plan has been funded, forcing aid organizations to reduce assistance to millions. Households across Yemen are resorting to increasingly desperate coping strategies, such as buying food on credit, selling assets, and reducing meal frequency.
The situation is particularly acute in districts like Al Wazi’yah, which has been classified as IPC Phase 4 and where half of its 53,150 residents face IPC Phase 3+ conditions, 55% rely on precarious casual labor, malnutrition rates reach 31% Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM), and its 2,056 IDPs experience extreme food deprivation (30-42% in camps).
Despite these challenges, food is available in local markets; the main barrier is economic access due to a loss of purchasing power. Women and girls face additional vulnerabilities due to mobility restrictions, protection risks, and economic constraints, highlighting the need for a tailored, gender-responsive approach to aid delivery.
The project will provide monthly cash transfers of CAD $124 / household for eight months for participants to purchase food from local markets. The project aims to reach 5,320 people in 760 households. Project staff will refer malnourished children to existing health facilities.