Yemen's children face vaccine crisis as shortages worsen
UNICEF suspended operations in Houthi-controlled areas, leaving nearly five million children without routine vaccinations. Families are traveling long distances to government-held cities for shots, incurring significant costs. The Yemeni health ministry warns that the lack of immunizations poses a serious threat to child health.
UNICEF's suspension in Houthi-controlled regions followed the detention of its personnel and raids on its offices. The last vaccine delivery to Sanaa occurred in early September 2025, leaving a critical gap. By late July 2026, authorities in Aden reported that roughly five million children lacked routine immunizations.
One father journeyed roughly 75 kilometers from Ibb to Taiz, spending about $100 to obtain polio and pneumococcal vaccines for his infant. Prior to the crisis, door-to-door teams provided these shots free. Data from March 2026 indicated only 59.3% of health facilities were fully operational, with 63% overall vaccination coverage, figures that likely worsened after supplies depleted.
The suspension of immunization services could trigger outbreaks of preventable diseases among children in Houthi-held regions. Families may face prohibitive travel costs or choose to skip vaccinations, deepening health inequities. This disruption may also strain already limited healthcare infrastructure and undermine future aid delivery, potentially leading to long-term developmental setbacks and increased child mortality across the affected population.