One of the world’s worst humanitarian crises is happening in Yemen, where years of conflict and economic disruption have left millions of people in need of humanitarian aid and protection.
NRC in Yemen
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been working in the country since 2012 and have reached millions of vulnerable people in that time. We now operate in 10 governorates – including some of the most hard-to-reach areas – helping people who’ve fled their homes, the communities that host them and those who return to rebuild their lives.
What’s happening in Yemen?
Yemen has endured twelve years of brutal conflict, leading to economic deterioration, mass displacement and the collapse of public services across the country. Houses, farms, schools and water systems have been damaged or destroyed. Fewer than half of the country’s health facilities are reported to be functioning and millions of displaced families are in urgent need of food and livelihoods support. Climate-related shocks, such as flooding, drought and water scarcity, continue to worsen humanitarian needs.
Although large-scale fighting has eased under truce-like conditions, clashes persist in some areas and regional tensions continue to affect the country. Meanwhile, the political situation remains volatile and the economic turmoil continues – pushing the price of food and basic goods further out of reach for many people.
Sadly, it will take years of rebuilding – and sustained international support – to help Yemen out of its current crisis. Yet right now, funding from the international community is inadequate and has declined over the past four years, while displaced families continue to suffer.
Our response
We’re an emergency first-line rapid responder, but we also pave the way towards recovery and durable solutions – working with our partners in the following areas:
- Water, sanitation and hygiene – providing safe water, sanitation and hygiene services, constructing and rebuilding water supply systems, installing latrines and handwashing facilities in schools and refugee camps, and promoting good hygiene practices.
- Shelter and settlements – delivering essential household items, providing cash assistance for rent, and supporting families with emergency, transitional and sustainable shelter solutions, as well as more permanent settlement infrastructure.
- Livelihoods and food security – distributing emergency food baskets, delivering agricultural and livestock support, providing unconditional cash assistance and vocational training, and facilitating the establishment and expansion of microbusinesses.
- Education – helping children access formal and non-formal education, providing psychosocial support, delivering teaching materials and training, rehabilitating learning spaces and supporting young people with marketable skills and vocational opportunities.
- Protection from violence – providing protection services, including community safety and violence prevention, displacement site management and support for vulnerable groups facing heightened protection risks.
- Information, counselling and legal assistance – helping people claim and exercise their rights through information, counselling, legal assistance, collaborative dispute resolution, capacity building and advocacy.
- Advocacy – addressing the political factors that create or sustain displacement, influencing people in power to change laws, policies and practices, and working to remove barriers that prevent people from realising their rights.
Our operations
NRC office established: 2012
Areas of operation: Amanat Al Asimah, Sana’a, Hajjah, Hodeidah, Amran, Aden, Lahj, Abyan, Taiz, Marib, Al-Dhale’e
Country Director: Deirdre Keogh
Contact: nrc.yemen@nrc.no
Our impact
In 2025, we assisted 792,899 people through our programmes in Yemen:
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20,047Education
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555,463Livelihoods and food security
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36,816Shelter and settlements
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55,680Protection from violence
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10,004Information, counselling and legal assistance
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201,210Water, sanitation and hygiene
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121,115Multi-purpose cash assistance
Note: some people received more than one type of assistance.
