Nearly 456,00 children under the age of five in Yemen will likely suffer from acute malnutrition over the course of 2023 and will need treatment. Of these, over 97,000 children are likely severely malnourished and up to a quarter million pregnant and lactating women and girls. 

Critical levels of acute malnutrition (IPC AMN Phase 4) persist in Al Hodeida Southlands, Ta’iz and Lahj Lowlands during the current classification (October 2022 – May 2023) and child stunting levels are also very high. Acute malnutrition levels are expected to deteriorate further during the projection period (June – September 2023). All 16 analysis zones are classified in IPC AMN Phase 3 (Serious) and above, including seven zones in IPC AMN Phase 4 (Critical). Overall, the most vulnerable areas are in lowlands of Abyan, Hodeidah, Lahj, Al Dali and Ta’iz, where wasting for children under five years is present. 

Improve infant and young child nutrition 

Promote evidence-based interventions that support, protect, and sustain appropriate child feeding and care through facility and community-based approaches. This includes social behavior change communication strategies to improve exclusive breastfeeding, timely initiation of complementary feeding and young children’s diets.

Scale up treatment and prevention of malnutrition interventions 

Inter-sectoral/cluster programming is vital to prevent and manage all forms of malnutrition in Yemen, given the projected worsening of an already precarious situation. Integrating health, livelihoods, WASH and cash/voucher programs into the multi sectoral nutrition response actions to improve nutrition outcomes.

Strengthen routine and mass vaccination 

Vaccination campaigns targeting children under five for polio and other vaccine preventable diseases such as measles should be continued and intensified, prioritizing zones of low Expanded Programme Immunization (EPI) coverage and high morbidity. The campaigns should be carried out alongside vitamin A supplementation to reduce child morbidity and mortality in the long term.