Yemen: UNHCR Operational Update, January - May 2025

OPERATIONAL CONTEXT

Yemen remains one of the world’s most acute and complex humanitarian crises. In 2025, protracted conflict, economic decline, and extreme weather driven by climate change have left more than 19.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Nearly 4.8 million Yemenis remain displaced within the country—many for years—while over 60,000 refugees and asylum-seekers from Somalia, Ethiopia, and elsewhere have sought safety in Yemen. Despite insecurity, bureaucratic hurdles, and severe funding constraints, UNHCR and its partners continue to deliver protection and critical assistance to the most vulnerable across the country.

UNHCR’s main office in Sana’a, sub-office in Aden, and field locations in Al-Hudaydah, Ibb, Ma’rib, and Sa’ada ensure coverage of the vast majority of Yemen’s 22 governorates and 333 districts, working closely with authorities, local partners, and communities.

As the United Nations agency mandated to protect and assist refugees and asylum-seekers, UNHCR is the sole agency responsible for refugee protection and assistance in Yemen. For internally displaced Yemenis, UNHCR is part of the broader humanitarian system and leads the Protection, Shelter/Non-Food Items (NFI), and Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) clusters. UNHCR and its partners provide refugees with a comprehensive range of services—including protection, legal assistance and documentation, shelter, non-food items, education, health care, water, and energy. For internally displaced persons, UNHCR delivers protection services, legal assistance and documentation, shelter support, non-food items, and leads coordination in displacement sites. All assistance is provided free of charge to those most in need.

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