In part due to U.S. funding cuts, large numbers of Yemeni women, children, and internally displaced persons, or IDPs have lost access to critical protection support.
Date: 4/26
Region: Middle East & North Africa
Country: Yemen
Topic: Refugees & Displacement, Gender Equality & Inclusion
Policy Lens: Security & Resilience
Entry Type: System Impact
Additional Context: The loss of critical protection services is part of larger humanitarian coverage setbacks. Protection concerns are noted to be caused and persist due to a combination of ongoing conflict and a broader collapse of essential services. According to a consortium of international NGOs, as of the beginning of 2026, an estimated 22.3 million people required humanitarian and protection assistance in Yemen.
Devex Researcher Note: Between 2024 and 2026, funding towards protection services has decreased by 45%. Gender-based violence protection services were completely unfunded as of April 2026. U.S. contributions to the humanitarian response in Yemen, which stood at $793 million in 2024, dropped to zero by 2026.
Source: Joint INGO statement