Since 2015, armed conflict has fuelled a crisis of unprecedented magnitude in what was already the poorest country in the Arab region. In a country of 30 million, nearly 80% of Yemenis needs assistance.

The crisis is the world’s greatest humanitarian and development disaster that is being exacerbated by the unmitigated spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Yemen’s case fatality rate is projected to be between 25% - 40%, four to six times higher than the global average.

UNDP assists vulnerable Yemenis to meet their most urgent needs, restoring livelihoods, strengthening resilience to future challenges, and preparing for long-term development. Engaging local capacities, systems and institutions, UNDP helps Yemen build back better. Our work is framed around three interlinked and mutually reinforcing pillars.

Key Programme Results (January 2019 – June 2020)

• Over 2.3 million employment workdays created for crisis-affected people
• Nearly 102,000 from vulnerable household people employed in cash-for-work programmes (indirectly benefiting over 600,000)
• Over 2.2 million people received water, education and improved roads
• Nearly 1,600 classrooms refurbished
• 191 kilometres of roads improved
• Over 8,529 hectares (approximately 10 acres) of farmland built or improved
• Over 342,900 people gained access to solar power (including 35 schools and 101 health facilities)
• Cleared 4.8 million square meters of land and over 100,000 explosive remnants of war
• Hodeidah Training Centre repaired and equipped
• Red Sea Ports assessed
• Procuring urgent Hodeidah Port equipment including repairing two gantry cranes

COVID-19 Related Key Results (March 2020 - Current)

• 1.5 million Yemenis expected to be reached through COVID-19 community outreach
• 145,000 communities in all governorates reached to raise COVID-19 awareness
• 42,500 people received COVID-19 prevention kits
• Over 1,600 water stations provided
• 9 isolation units established and equipped
• Launched 2000 SMEs for local production of COVID-19 prevention items (August 2020 expected 50,000 masks and 4,000 litres of soap a day)