International Medical Corps Partners with the United Arab Emirates to Provide Nutrition Services in Yemen Amid Global Hunger Crisis

With generous support from the United Arab Emirates through the Famine Relief Fund, International Medical Corps is implementing an emergency nutrition services project in southwestern Yemen to support underserved communities in the Al Dhale’e, Lahj and Taiz governorates.

Yemen is reeling under multiple crises, including outbreaks of disease, economic crises, fuel shortages, rising inflation and disruption of food imports, with the war in Ukraine further affecting the supply and price of food. More than 80% of Yemenis live below the poverty line, putting households at a greater risk of food insecurity. More than 2 million children under 5 and 1.3 million pregnant and lactating women in the country are likely to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2022.

International Medical Corps has started implementing nutrition programs in the three governorates to reduce cases of malnutrition. Over a period of six months, the organization will support 22 targeted health facilities with medications, nutrition commodities and other essential supplies, and will help five health facilities install solar power and expand storage capacity for medications and nutrition commodities. It will also promote maternal, infant and young-child nutrition in emergencies and hygiene best practices among pregnant and lactating women and caregivers, to efficiently treat and manage malnutrition.

In addition, International Medical Corps will provide multi-purpose cash assistance to households that include children undergoing treatment for severe acute malnutrition with medical complications. The assistance will cover basic food commodities and other essential services, enabling caregivers to plan and prioritize household expenditures, and reducing harmful coping mechanisms.

“The support of the United Arab Emirates government to International Medical Corps comes at a time when Yemen is experiencing a sharp increase in incidents of acute malnutrition among children and pregnant and lactating women,” said Dr. Stanley Asaku, Yemen Programs Director, International Medical Corps. “Through this support, we can save the lives of more than 9,000 children and protect them from the permanent effects of malnutrition on their growth and development.”

“This is a timely intervention that will help save the lives of malnourished children and improve the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women in the southern regions of the country, which are the most affected by the worsening food security situation,” said Dr. Ebtisam Dayah, Nutrition Program Manager in Yemen. “International Medical Corps will use this opportunity to provide lifesaving nutrition services to children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women in targeted communities.”