In a tiny clinic in Al Kawd, Yemen, 13-year-aged Rania Moussa lies helplessly, unable to take the antibiotics she needs to manage her anemia. Her mother, Jamilah Omar, had to carry her to the clinic, which previously provided the medication for free. However, due to cuts in U.S. Assistance over the past year, the clinic is now out of stock, leaving Rania and others like her in dire need.
“She can’t walk; she can barely move,” Jamilah said. “We could get the shots before, but now none of the clinics have them, so I have to buy them from pharmacies. We can barely afford food, let alone medications.” This heartbreaking situation underscores the far-reaching impact of drastic reductions in aid, particularly from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which has faced significant budget cuts since the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration.
The drastic funding cuts have led to the closure of numerous health facilities across Yemen. In 2025, the U.S. Pledged only $3.4 billion in global aid, a stark decrease from the $14.1 billion allocated under the Biden administration, which has significantly affected the healthcare system in Yemen. The situation is exacerbated by political decisions that have sidelined essential humanitarian needs.
Healthcare System in Crisis
Areeda Fadhli, a medical assistant at the clinic, reflects on the dire circumstances, stating, “You experience helpless. Imagine your son, your daughter, fading in front of you.” The supplies available in the clinic are dwindling; the last shipment arrived over nine months ago, forcing the staff to stretch limited resources as far as possible.
Yemen’s humanitarian crisis is not isolated; it reflects a broader trend of diminishing foreign assistance worldwide. Other wealthy nations are also scaling back their humanitarian support, with Germany cutting its budget by over half and France planning a 40% reduction in development assistance. The U.K. Is similarly reducing its aid expenditures.
Impact of U.S. Policy Changes
The Biden administration’s funding cuts have resulted in a significant drop in aid for Yemen, where the humanitarian response budget fell from $768 million to just $42.5 million. According to the United Nations, this has led to the partial or imminent closure of 453 health facilities nationwide, including hospitals and primary health centers. The Lancet has published a study projecting that these cuts could lead to 14 million otherwise preventable deaths globally by 2030 due to the loss of crucial services.
Yemen, already devastated by a civil war since 2014, faces a humanitarian catastrophe, with nearly half the population requiring aid. The conflict, which has seen Iran-backed Houthi rebels clash with a Saudi-led coalition, has left 19.5 million people in need of assistance, a number expected to rise to 21 million this year.
Challenges Ahead
The U.S. Designation of the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization complicates matters further, effectively outlawing aid delivery to the areas they control, which house 70% of Yemen’s population. Humanitarian efforts are hindered by the detention of U.N. Staff and confiscation of aid supplies, making it increasingly hard to address the growing needs.
Julien Harneis, the U.N. Resident coordinator in Yemen, notes the confluence of conflict and funding constraints as creating a perfect storm for humanitarian needs: “All the conditions are coming together for a extremely difficult year.” Aid organizations that once thrived on U.S. Support have been forced to lay off staff and close offices, with one organization reducing its funding from $32 million to just $2 million.
Dr. Umayma Jamil, the last remaining physician in the Al Kawd clinic, faces daily frustrations as patients return without the medications they need. “I inquire them, ‘Did you get medicine?’ And they say they can’t because there’s no money,” she lamented. With the clinic now relying on meager funds, the once-bustling facility is barely able to provide care to the community.
Looking Forward
As the healthcare system in Yemen continues to deteriorate, experts warn of impending epidemics and increasing mortality rates, particularly among children. The potential for outbreaks of diseases such as cholera looms large, with limited resources to manage them effectively. Harneis predicts a significant rise in epidemics, stating, “Children are dying and more children will die later this year.”
This month, the U.S. Also completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, a move criticized for compromising global safety. Many in the humanitarian community recognize the flaws within USAID but emphasize the importance of maintaining support for vulnerable populations. The rollback of aid is felt acutely in places like Al Kawd, where the consequences of funding cuts are not just numbers but lives.
The situation in Yemen remains precarious, and without a reversal in policy or increased international support, the prospects for recovery appear grim. As the world watches, the critical need for humanitarian assistance in Yemen becomes increasingly urgent, calling for a renewed commitment to aid and support for those in desperate need.
For those interested in the unfolding situation in Yemen, your comments and shares can help raise awareness about this humanitarian crisis.
