The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is working across Yemen to address the urgent reproductive health needs of women and girls. The agency warns that a combination of malnutrition, limited healthcare access, and escalating security risks is endangering lives.
Malnutrition on the Rise
Food insecurity is a primary concern. “Unfortunately, malnutrition is on the rise,” stated Francesco Galtieri, UNFPA’s top official in Yemen. Malnutrition poses significant risks to the development and health of babies, especially for pregnant women. Access to healthcare remains a critical issue in remote and hard-to-reach rural areas. Yemen has the highest maternal mortality rate in the Arab region, with an average of three women dying daily from pregnancy complications or childbirth. Approximately two-thirds of these deaths are preventable if a midwife or doctor is accessible. Beyond health, protection from violence is also a major concern. Conflict and economic hardship amplify risks, often disproportionately affecting women and girls.
Funding Cuts Lead to Deaths
UNFPA-supported safe spaces offer women refuge and pathways to recovery, providing psychosocial support, vocational training, and economic empowerment initiatives designed to help survivors rebuild their lives. The agency also offers legal aid through Yemen’s legal system to those seeking justice. Despite these efforts, funding cuts are severely straining programs. Galtieri noted that nearly 40% of UNFPA’s humanitarian funding was cut last year, forcing the agency to suspend or halt about one-third of its services. In a country with a high maternal mortality rate, reduced services can mean a woman experiencing complications may not receive life-saving care, frequently resulting in the death of both mother and child. Protection services have also been impacted by these cuts. This year, UNFPA-supported shelters have been unable to admit new survivors of gender-based violence, and the reductions can have lasting effects on children affected by malnutrition and trauma.
A Healthy Debate?
Galtieri is currently attending UNFPA Executive Board meetings in New York, where representatives from conflict-affected regions are engaging with Member States. These discussions highlight a resurgence in debate around sexual and reproductive health rights, which have not seen such intense scrutiny in decades. “I always wonder why, when a society enters a period of tension and conflict, women and girls become the focus of this political conflict,” Galtieri said. Addressing decision-makers directly, he calls for greater investment in essential services like midwives, arguing that prioritizing life-saving care over other expenditures should not be contentious. Funding decisions often support other priorities, despite their clear humanitarian cost. In Yemen, Galtieri warns, this cost is measured in the lives of women and girls who would otherwise survive.
