From Bravery to Restoration: The Yemen Appeal

Bring Relief to Yemen

Fear, worry, hunger, grief. For 24 million people in Yemen, this is their tragic reality. 

With the recent suspension of general food distributions by the UN World Food Programme, this concerning decision will exacerbate the current humanitarian crisis and have a devastating impact on the most vulnerable in Yemen. 

9.5 million people will now be left without food in northern Yemen. 

Our teams in Yemen are currently on the ground in 17 of the country’s 22 governorates, continuing to distribute food packs and essential food vouchers to provide critical aid to families in need. Your Sadaqah and Zakat can be the relief for children and families facing starvation in Yemen.

What is the Yemen Crisis?

The ongoing Yemen crisis began with the 2012 revolution against the country’s former President. With the new government and opposing rebel groups backed by rivaling countries, escalating violence has become the norm and continues to ravage the nation and its 32 million citizens. 

Violence, high tension, and blockades have led to increased levels of food insecurity, socio economic instability, health risks, and famine. The humanitarian crisis in Yemen remains one of the worst in the world. After over 9 years of continuous war, millions of people are hungry, ill, destitute, and vulnerable. 

In Yemen, 14 million people lack access to safe water and sanitation, 19.7 million people lack access to adequate healthcare, and 6 million people are on the brink of famine. With the conflict continuing to wreak havoc, women and children are left vulnerable to heightened violence and food insecurity. It’s estimated that over 2.2 million Yemen children are starving

Yemen Crisis: 24 million people are in need of humanitarian aid

With the ongoing conflict in Yemen – already one of the poorest countries in the region – tens of thousands of lives have been lost and over 16 million people don’t know where their next meal will come from. A country crippled by conflict is sadly now on the brink of famine.

With families facing ongoing armed conflict, displacement, disease and economic decline, an estimated 24 million people (80% of the country’s population) are now in need of humanitarian aid to survive – a figure so high that it is in fact the highest across the globe.

Yemen now officially hosts the world’s largest human-induced food security crisis.

Families and communities have been torn apart and left without even the most basic of living essentials:

• 12 million Yemen children are in need of food, water, shelter and medicine

• Over 19 million people lack access to basic healthcare

• 4.5 million people have been left displaced by conflict and violence

On the ground in Yemen, the situation is dire and things are getting worse each and every day.

Why the people of Yemen need your help

“I am tired. Tired of sickness and treatments, the extreme cold, and my inability to meet my family’s basic needs. Our life is tiring and although we do not have anything, we still say Alhamdulillah.”

Yasmine is a skin cancer patient and displaced mother of six. 3 years ago, Yasmine and her family uprooted their lives and fled violence in Al-Hodeidah. They now reside in Sana’a, where her family struggles to make ends meet. 

Yasmine’s family often goes days without enough food, water, and medicine. Their urgent needs are compounded by Yasmine’s cancer treatment, costing over $1,600 CAD per day of treatment. This means that Yasmine forgoes treatment most days, simply because she cannot afford it.

With little money to their name and minimal sustenance to keep them alive, Yasmine’s family are in urgent need of support. 

“Where do we go? Will anyone have mercy on us? Will anyone look at us with an eye of mercy? Who will look at us?” 

Yemen Crisis: Islamic Relief is on the ground

Islamic Relief has been working in Yemen since 1998 and is currently on the ground in 17 of the country’s 22 governorates, delivering aid to many hard-to-reach areas. Our country office is in the capital, Sana’a, and we have eight sub-offices in Dhamar, Amran, Aden, Taiz, Hodeida, Saada, Maarib and Rymah.

We remain on the ground throughout the year, long after the cameras leave, providing essential food aid to families at risk of famine and those facing extensive food insecurity. 

We staff more than 315 national and international employees dedicated to providing disaster relief and aid in the country's most troubled areas. Beyond our primary focus of delivering lifesaving emergency aid, Islamic Relief works on early recovery and development projects, including the likes of child welfare programs, orphan sponsorship, safe hygiene practices, livelihood opportunities, and so much more.

The best way to donate to help Yemen

Through our emergency appeal, you can help Yemen by donating generously to save lives. Islamic Relief is distributing food across a wide area and providing food to 2 million people every month. 

We’ve also supported 167 health facilities across the country to enable doctors and nurses working to treat wounded, sick and malnourished people. We have also been working to support children through child protection and psycho-social support activities.

In light of the impending famine, we’re continuing to distribute food packs and essential food vouchers to provide critical aid to families in need. However, we need your help to reach as many people as possible and widen our response.