The UN agency supporting women and girls in the field (UNFPA) is working across the country to meet urgent reproductive needs. It warns that a combination of malnutrition, limited healthcare and rising protection risks is putting lives in jeopardy.

‘Malnutrition is on the rise’

One of the most immediate concerns is food insecurity. “Unfortunately, malnutrition is on the rise,” says Francesco Galtieri, the agency’s senior official in Yemen.

The consequences are particularly severe for pregnant women – when they lack adequate nutrition during pregnancy, the risks to their babies’ development and health increase significantly.

Healthcare access, especially in rural and remote areas, is another critical challenge.

The country has the highest maternal mortality rate in the Arab region, and three women die every day due to pregnancy complications or during childbirth. Around two-thirds of these deaths could be prevented if they had access to a midwife or doctor.

Beyond health, protection from violence is a pressing concern. Conflict and economic hardship have heightened risks for women and girls, who often bear the brunt.

Funding cuts result in death

Safe spaces supported by UNFPA offer women refuge and a path to recovery, providing psychosocial support, vocational training and economic empowerment initiatives designed to help survivors rebuild their lives.

The agency also provides legal assistance to those seeking justice through Yemen’s legal system.

Despite these achievements, funding cuts are putting the programmes under severe strain. Mr. Galtieri told UN News that around 40 per cent of UNFPA’s humanitarian funding was cut last year, forcing the agency to suspend or halt support for roughly one third of its services.

In a country with high maternal mortality, reduced services mean that a woman experiencing complications may be unable to access lifesaving care, often resulting in the death of both mother and child.

Protection services have also been affected. This year, UNFPA-supported shelters have been unable to accept new survivors of gender-based violence, and the cuts can lead to lasting effects on children affected by malnutrition and trauma.

Healthy debate?

Mr Galtieri is currently in New York attending meetings of UNFPA’s Executive Board, where representatives from conflict-affected areas are engaging with Member States.

Discussions have highlighted renewed debate around sexual and reproductive health and rights, an issue he says has not been under such scrutiny in decades.

“I always wonder why, when a society enters into a phase of tension and confrontation, women and girls become the focus of that political confrontation,” he says.

Appealing directly to decision-makers, Mr. Galtieri urges greater investment in essential services such as midwifery, arguing that prioritising lifesaving care over other expenditures should not be controversial.

Funding decisions often favour other priorities, despite the clear human cost. In Yemen, he warns, that cost is measured in the lives of women and girls who might otherwise have survived.