Half of children under five in Yemen are malnourished, UN says

One in two children under the age of five in Yemen are malnourished, with over 540,000 severely affected, according to UN. Peter Hawkins, UNICEF's Yemen representative, called the situation "man-made" during a press briefing from Sanaa, stressing that a decade of conflict has devastated the country’s infrastructure, economy, and healthcare system.

Peter Hawkins, UNICEF's Yemen representative said "This catastrophe is not natural. It is man-made. Over a decade of conflict has decimated Yemen's economy, healthcare system, and infrastructure. Even during periods of reduced violence, the structural consequences of the conflict, especially for girls and boys, have remained severe."

Hawkins also highlighted the alarming number of 1.4 million malnourished pregnant and lactating women, worsening the intergenerational cycle of suffering. UNICEF continues to provide aid, supporting 3,200 health facilities across Yemen in 2025.