Beyond Survival: A Crisis Stealing Yemen’s Children’s Future

Born into hardship, Mohammed began to show signs of severe malnutrition just months after birth. Halima, herself undernourished, watched helplessly as her youngest grew weaker in a village without clinics, doctors, or reliable food. Like many children in Kahlan, Mohammed was quietly slipping into danger. 

The dangers of malnutrition can have a long-lasting effect on children if left untreated. This includes growth stunts, weakened immunity, and impaired cognitive development, trapping families in a cycle of poverty and instability. This crisis doesn’t just threaten survival; it robs children of their future. 

In response to this ongoing humanitarian emergency, we have partnered with Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation to provide life-saving nutrition to seven of Yemen’s hardest-hit regions, where humanitarian aid is limited including: Jarrahi – Al Hudaydah, Al Matammah – Al Jawf, As Saddah – Ibb, As Sukhnah – Al Hudaydah, Jabal Habashi – Taiz, Jabal Sabir – Taiz, Kuʿaydinah – Hajjah. 

When we learned about Samir’s family’s dire conditions, our team conducted a field screening in Kahlan. Mohammed’s measurements confirmed severe acute malnutrition; his arm circumference was less than 11 cm. We immediately enrolled him in our nutrition support program. 

We delivered specialized food supplements to the family and guided Halima on how to feed her son according to a tailored nutritional plan. Our team followed up regularly, adjusting support and monitoring Mohammed’s progress. 

Like in Mohammed’s case, we focused on a particularly vulnerable group: children who had just completed treatment for moderate or severe acute malnutrition. While these children were stabilized in health centers, many remained at high risk of relapse due to poor living conditions and food scarcity.

Our teams provided six consecutive months of high-protein, therapeutic food supplements tailored to their needs, paired with medical supervision and caretaker education on proper nutrition. These efforts helped strengthen children’s immune systems, supported healthy development, and reduced the likelihood of relapse. 

Through community screenings and treatment center referrals, we reached 1,600 children since the program launched in January 2024, providing not just food, but a renewed chance at life. 

Month by month, these children gained weight, strength, and stability. Their parents reported fewer infections and doctor visits. Caretakers gained confidence and knowledge. Children began to grow, learn, and thrive. 

“This support came when I had no hope left,” Halima told us. “You saved my son’s life.”