SEMC Warns of the Humanitarian Impact of Reduced International Aid to Yemen
The Studies and Economic Media Center (SEMC) has warned of the serious humanitarian consequences of reducing international grants and aid to Yemen, especially as the country faces an unprecedented humanitarian and economic crisis.
In a recent report on the repercussions of the decline in grants and aid to Yemen, the SEMC called for urgent and essential support for the country, along with a gradual transition toward sustainable development efforts.
The Report highlighted the severe impact the reduction in aid has had on displaced persons, vulnerable groups, and the overall health and living conditions of millions of Yemenis.
The SEMC urged the international community to address the current funding gap, either through the 2025 UN Humanitarian Response Plan or by supporting other development programs and continuing global efforts to mitigate one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The Report reviewed recent developments in the reduction of international aid to Yemen, particularly the sharp decline in U.S. assistance, which had played a significant role over the past decade in alleviating the humanitarian and living crisis. It noted that the first half of 2025 witnessed an unprecedented drop in funding for Yemen’s humanitarian response plan, with coverage reaching only 9% of total needs by mid-May, despite the number of people in need rising to over 19.5 million.
The Report also outlined major shifts in the international funding landscape for Yemen, stressing that the sharp decline has severely impacted humanitarian operations across critical sectors such as food security, healthcare, education, and protection services. It further led to the suspension of numerous relief and service projects, depriving millions of Yemenis, especially in areas hosting large numbers of displaced persons, of access to basic services.
The Report highlighted the significant impact of the United States’ decision to suspend a large portion of its humanitarian assistance at the beginning of 2025. U.S. contributions dropped to just $16 million during the first half of the year, compared to $768 million in 2024. This resulted in a major funding gap for essential programs and weakened the performance of both international and local humanitarian organizations, particularly in Marib Governorate, which hosts the largest population of internally displaced persons.
According to the Report, total international aid to Yemen since 2015 has exceeded $29 billion, including more than $6.4 billion from the U.S. through various programs supporting essential sectors such as food, health, education, and water, especially amid the continued collapse of state institutions.
The Report includes a deep analysis of how reduced funding has affected living conditions in Yemen. It shows how this decline has contributed to worsening hunger, the shutdown of health facilities, a deterioration in protection services, and broader economic consequences including a 25% drop in the value of the Yemeni rial within a short period, rising prices of essential goods, and shrinking job opportunities. All of this has further exacerbated the country’s already fragile humanitarian and economic situation.
The SEMC called for the adoption of a gradual and organized phase-out plan for humanitarian aid, to be accompanied by the strengthening of local development efforts, the resumption of oil and gas exports, the payment of public sector salaries, and investment incentives. It also emphasized the importance of transparency, expanding partnerships with local organizations, and adopting an integrated approach that links humanitarian response with development and peacebuilding.
The SEMC stated that this report is part of its ongoing efforts to contribute to public discourse on the future of humanitarian work in Yemen. It aims to provide practical, evidence-based recommendations to decision-makers and donors to enhance humanitarian response and prevent further economic and humanitarian deterioration.
You can download the full Report through this link:
http://www.yemenief.org/Download_Center/docment/doc_4132.pdf