A new UN report titled ‘The Price of Inaction’ has issued a stark warning that continued funding shortages have left 22.3 million people in Yemen in need of humanitarian assistance. The report states that a recent decline in funding has affected UN operations in the country, which continues to grapple with 11 years of turmoil and economic crises. Published on Saturday, the report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that "Yemen has entered a critical turning point in 2026," warning that inaction could push millions into severe hunger and catastrophic conditions.

OCHA further stated that 2.2 million children under the age of five are already suffering from acute malnutrition, which could cause physical and mental development problems including irreversible damage, such as stunting, or even death. The report says that 19.3 million people in Yemen could face escalating health risks this year, and that 40 percent of health facilities in the country are only partially or completely operational. Shrinking access in the country was also highlighted as another factor continuing to the scaling back of aid projects in Yemen.

"Without urgent action, lives will be lost, communities will destabilise, and essential systems will edge closer to collapse. A well-funded response and unimpeded humanitarian access are critical to prevent Yemen from sliding into a deeper catastrophe," the report states. Years of war have left over 5.3 million people displaced in Yemen, while at least 14.4 million people need access to clean water and life-saving sanitation.

Without the necessary support of aid organisations, vulnerable people, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, will be worst affected. OCHA says that if urgent action is not taken to help fund aid projects, there will be an uptick in deadly diseases, such as cholera, measles, and diphtheria. It will also mean that millions of children will face growing disruption to their schooling, forcing them into the labour market or premature marriage as an alternative.

Last month, at least seven people died following a week of heavy rainfall in Yemen’s western coastal areas. The flooding has caused widespread damage to homes and infrastructure, with around 50 houses either completely or partially destroyed. Residents also reported that major roads have been cut off and large swathes of farmland swept away due to rising water levels. Humanitarian workers have warned that the impact of natural disasters has worsened in recent years, compounding already fragile conditions caused by years of conflict, with millions of displaced people living in camps and remaining especially vulnerable to extreme weather.