UN Warns of Collapsing Health System, Surging Child Mortality in Yemen

Julien Harneis, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, has issued a stark warning regarding an impending humanitarian catastrophe, stating that the nation is facing a critical surge in child mortality and widespread famine-like conditions as the country enters 2026.

Following a period of intense political and security upheaval, Mr. Harneis described an “extraordinarily complicated” operating environment that is severely hampering lifesaving aid. Recent weeks saw rapid shifts in territorial control in southern Yemen between Government-aligned forces and the Southern Transitional Council (STC), further destabilizing resource-rich governorates like Hadramout and Al Mahra.

A System in Collapse

The UN reports that Yemen’s health infrastructure is nearing a total breakdown. Key findings include:

• Facility Closures: Over 450 health facilities have closed, with thousands more at risk due to a lack of funding.
• Immunization Gaps: Only two-thirds of children are fully immunized, with access particularly restricted in northern regions.
• Food Insecurity: More than 20 million Yemenis—half the population—are projected to face acute food insecurity in the coming month.

“The simple narrative is, children are dying and it’s going to get worse,” said Mr. Harneis. “My fear is that we won’t hear about it until the mortality and the morbidity significantly increases in this next year.”

Staff Detentions and Security Obstacles

The humanitarian response continues to be obstructed by the ongoing detention of 69 UN and diplomatic staff members by Houthi forces in Sana’a. Some personnel have been held for up to five years without contact with their families or clarity regarding their legal status.

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UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg recently emphasized to the Security Council that this volatility underscores the urgent need for a “credible, inclusive political process” to prevent the complete unraveling of regional stability.

Humanitarian Resilience

Despite severe access restrictions and the “terrifying effect” of the recent political breakdown on aid workers, UN partners successfully reached 3.4 million people with food assistance and emergency support during the past year. However, officials warn that without a major shift in economic and political decision-making, the gains made since the 1960s are at risk of being permanently erased.

“We are expecting things to be much worse in 2026,” Harneis concluded, calling on the international community to prioritize Yemen before the humanitarian toll becomes insurmountable.

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