Yemen

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CARE’s work in Yemen

CARE started working in Yemen in 1993, focusing on relief and reconstruction in the wake of the civil war. Today we run long-term projects to reduce poverty and promote social justice, as well as continuing to respond to humanitarian needs caused by ongoing political instability and conflict. All our work in Yemen focuses on community self-help and empowering women. We run projects on women’s literacy, water management and natural resource management. In particular, we support the formation of women’s associations so rural women can get together to set up businesses, farming initiatives and education projects.

COVID-19 in Yemen

Malak learning handwashing technique, Yemen

Above: CARE community health worker, Samah, showing 12-year-old Malak how to wash her hands thoroughly

In Yemen, already one of the poorest countries in the world, five years of civil war has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. As the conflict continues, food is running out, clean water is difficult to find, and for millions of people health services, jobs, or a means of earning an income are non-existent. As Suha Bashreen, one of the CARE team in Yemen, says: “COVID in Yemen is a crisis on a crisis on a crisis.”

As in many countries, CARE believes the number of coronavirus cases in Yemen is massively under reported. Where the fighting continues in the north of the country, there is no official data. The country is facing a shortage of PPE and testing kits. A lack of awareness about COVID-19 means that many people are also facing stigma for seeking health services so it’s likely the true number of cases is much higher than reported.

Read more about coronavirus in Yemen in Malak’s story: A hero in the fight against coronavirus

Yemen crisis appeal

Intense and ongoing conflict has left Yemen on the brink of collapse. Millions of children and families – more than 80% of the population – are struggling to find the food and water they need to survive. CARE is on the ground working to save lives, but many more people need your help. Read more on our Yemen crisis page.

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How your donations help people in Yemen

With funding from the Disasters Emergency Committee, thanks to donations from the UK public, CARE responded to the cholera outbreak in Yemen through an innovative cash-for-work programme that paid people in vulnerable and food-insecure households to work on building and rehabilitating water infrastructure. We also distributed hygiene kits, and provided safe water through water trucks. The project not only improved people's access to safe water; households in the cash-for-work programme were also able to buy food and medicines for their families.

Yemen water and sanitation project infographic