How to Help Yemen During a Humanitarian Crisis

In the midst of a global pandemic and war unfolding in Eastern Europe, it can be easy to be distracted by the ongoing crises that have been happening across the rest of the world. One of the most vulnerable countries in the Middle East is currently in the middle of one of the worst humanitarian emergencies worldwide.

The crisis in Yemen continues to obscure what this country has to offer.

Yemen has always been high on the list of poorest countries around the world, ranking in the bottom 10 on the Human Development Index. They have had one of the highest malnutrition rates in the Arab world, with half its population living in poverty.

That was before the clash between the Yemeni government and the Houthis caused an outbreak of civil war in 2015, leading to the current Yemen humanitarian crisis. Seven years of war and conflict have devastated the country, stripped it down, and left its people suffering.

On top of the thousands of fatalities, the infrastructure has been destroyed, along with healthcare systems and schools. People are starving and catching diseases that most of the world no longer experiences, like polio and measles. Many citizens have been left to live in the desert, facing freezing nights with no shelter. To make matters worse, Yemen is also home to over 135,000 refugees from Ethiopia and Somalia across the Gulf of Aden, and they recently faced a fourth wave of COVID-19.

The war has left over 20 million people in need of humanitarian aid in Yemen. Famine is affecting over 19 million people, and there are over 4 million citizens displaced, in addition to the international refugees. These numbers are growing every day.

You may be wondering, how can I help Yemen? Here you’ll find more information about how to help Yemen through various Yemen aid organizations.

Can you volunteer in Yemen?

Yemen is facing famine, violence, economic collapse, and crumbling healthcare systems. Refugees are in need of food, clean water, warm clothes, blankets, and shelter. While it’s natural to want to provide hands-on assistance to those in need and you may be wondering how to volunteer in Yemen, the country is in such extreme devastation that it is not advised to travel directly to the site.

There are very limited volunteer opportunities in Yemen, and the ones that exist put volunteers at risk of violence amidst the ongoing war. Those who volunteer in Yemen must meet extremely selective criteria and provide skills that are needed in-country, specifically for medical assistance.

With limited volunteer opportunities in Yemen, you may be wondering how to help the people of Yemen in a different way. The best way to help is to donate to Yemen—whether that is through Yemen charities, famine relief organizations, or international humanitarian organizations. Donations can assist those in-country with providing food, water, and other basics directly to the refugees in need.

How to help Yemen refugees right now

Anything you can donate to support relief in Yemen will make a difference.

If you want to know how to help Yemen, disaster experts say the best way is to donate to Yemen. This way, humanitarian organizations in Yemen can use the funds to help those in greatest need. Below you will find a list of reputable organizations who can provide humanitarian aid in Yemen and would benefit from direct donations.

Islamic humanitarian aid in Yemen / Yemen aid organizations

• Baitulmaal. This Yemen aid organization provides meals, antibiotics, medical services, and hygiene kits to those in need.
• Islamic Relief Worldwide. This humanitarian aid organization provides frontline medical care, prevents families from malnutrition, and provides clean water and sanitation to Yemeni refugees.
• Mona Relief. Founded by a Yemeni journalist and foreign activists, Mona uses donations to buy food and supplies for displaced families, using all local supplies to give back to the economy.
• Muslims Around the World Project. With options to donate specifically to various causes, you will know exactly where your money is going—whether that is to provide clean drinking water, food, milk for newborns, or orphan support.
• Muslim Global Relief. Providing humanitarian aid in Yemen, this organization aims to supply food, water, emergency shelter, and treatment for cholera to the people of Yemen.
• SADAQA. This local Yemen charity has completed projects to build clean water stations, but it is still possible to donate to Yemen relief projects.
• Yemen Aid. Founded by Yemeni-Americans, this is one of many Yemen charities that assist the humanitarian crisis on the ground through assistance with food, health care, safe drinking water, and sanitation systems.

International humanitarian organizations directly helping the people of Yemen

• British Red Cross. The Red Cross is supporting skilled medical professionals to volunteer in Yemen, providing medical supplies and PPE to Yemeni healthcare facilities.
• CARE. Donate to Yemen through CARE and your money will help send urgent supplies to families in need, helping them stay healthy and safe in times of crisis.
• International Medical Corps. In addition to providing food and medical supplies, the International Medical Corps also provides local medical training so that healthcare services can continue functioning within Yemen.
• International Rescue Committee. Women and children make up almost 80% of the affected refugees in Yemen. IRC is on the frontlines, providing outpatient care, reproductive health care to pregnant women and new mothers, and clean water, food, and education to children.
• Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders. MSF provides basic medical services for those suffering from disease related to poor sanitation and harsh living conditions.
• Mercy Corps. Since 2010, Mercy Corps has been helping Yemenis gain access to clean water, food, health services, and work opportunities. On-the-ground assistance has increased with the rise of war and pandemic.
• Oxfam Australia. Oxfam has been supporting Yemen since 1983, increasing their humanitarian aid in Yemen in recent years. Donations support clean water, sanitation facilities, food and income assistance, emergency shelter, and disease prevention across the country.
• UNICEF. UNICEF supports the children of Yemen by using donations to provide clean water, healthcare, vaccinations against common diseases (like the measles), and adolescent psychosocial support.
• UN Refugee Agency. Donations can help delivery of household essentials, cash, legal aid, COVID-19 hygiene kits, and shelter to Yemeni refugees.
• Save the Children. This international organization provides vital care to children in Yemen, including food, shelter, schooling, and protection in times of crisis.
• World Food Programme. WFP aids the Yemen famine by providing food assistance in the form of cash, vouchers, or rations. They provide nutritional support to pregnant and nursing women and young children, as well as contribute to rebuilding the country’s infrastructure.

More resources for helping the Yemen humanitarian crisis

• Center for Disaster Philanthropy. Stay up-to-date with other ways to support the Yemen humanitarian crisis.

GoAbroad articles about working with refugees in humanitarian crisis

• What I’ve Learned volunteering During Humanitarian Crises
• The Refugee Crisis & How International Volunteers Can (or Can't) Help
• How to Provide REAL Relief When You Volunteer in Refugee Camps
• Human Rights Volunteer Programs Abroad
• Conflict Resolution Volunteer Programs Abroad
• Disaster Relief Volunteer Programs Abroad
• Refugee Relief Volunteer Programs Abroad

Explore Refugee Volunteer Programs Abroad on GoAbroad.com

If you would like to share further resources on how to help the people of Yemen through this humanitarian crisis, please reach out to us at [email protected] or comment below.