Yemen has been living through one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises for years. But recently, the situation has grown significantly more dire.
New fighting has broken out over control of the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most strategically important waterways. Houthi forces have seized the city of Mocha in southern Yemen and now control the strait, forcing thousands of families to flee their homes. More than 146,000 people have been displaced since the fighting began—entire villages emptied, families fleeing for the second or third time, some now living in makeshift shelters with little food and no access to medical care.
They are not the first. Yemen has more than 22 million people in need of humanitarian aid—over half the entire population. By mid-2026, only 19 percent of those needs were being met.
A Health System Already at Its Breaking Point
Before this latest escalation, Yemen’s healthcare system was barely functioning. Today, 60 percent of health facilities are operating at full capacity. Frontline hospitals are overwhelmed. The road linking Mocha to Taiz—a vital supply route—has been cut off, making it even harder to reach people who need care. Every new wave of displacement makes an impossible situation worse.
What Our Teams Are Doing
Doctors of the World has been working in Yemen since 2007. As the crisis escalates, our teams are deploying an emergency response—assessing needs on the ground, supplying Ashat hospital with critical medical equipment, and distributing medicines to people who have none.
Our immediate priority is the people living in displacement camps, particularly those in makeshift settlements with the fewest resources and the greatest needs.
What We’re Calling For
Doctors of the World is calling on governments and humanitarian actors to guarantee the protection of displaced populations, ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access in Yemen, and fund the response that 22 million people urgently need.
Please support our work so our teams can stay on the ground and reach the people who need care most.
This article was last updated on September 28, 2026.