Partnership Unites Saudi Relief & WHO to Stabilize Malnutrition Among Yemeni Children

• A $1.55 million partnership between Saudi Relieft and the World Health Organization will deliver lifesaving care for children with severe acute malnutrition.
• The project supports 35 feeding centers and directly benefits over 18,000 children under five.

Updated 1 min 48 sec ago

October 18, 202601:07

Humanitarian Action Amid Deepening Crises

Saudi Arabia reinforced its commitment to protecting children in Yemen through a new $1.55 million partnership between KA‑RELIEF and the World Health Organization. This initiative seeks to provide lifesaving nutrition and medical care for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition with medical complications.

“These therapeutic medical interventions, including medicines, equipment and other needed supplies, will help children with severe acute malnutrition to recover and to have the best possible chance for a bright future,” said Dr. Abdullah Al‑Rabeeah, supervisor‑general of KA‑RELIEF in a WHO statement.

“WE ARE PLEASED TO WORK WITH OUR VALUABLE PARTNER, WHO, TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN IN YEMEN WHO ARE SUFFERING.”

Dr. Abdullah Al‑Moyalem, director of KA‑RELIEF’s Health and Environmental Aid Department, noted that the agreement reflects the centre’s ongoing focus on reducing preventable deaths among Yemen’s most vulnerable children.

“THIS $1.55 MILLION PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REFLECTS KASRELIEF’S CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO SAVING THE LIVES OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN YEMEN SUFFERING FROM SEVERE ACUTE MALNUTRITION WITH MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS.”

The agreement will strengthen access to specialized medical treatment and nutritional care, improve recovery outcomes, and reduce preventable child mortality.

Amid more than a decade of instability, economic collapse and disruptions to food supply chains, Yemen faces deepening food insecurity. According to the United Nations World Food Programme, 18.3 million people in Yemen experience acute food insecurity, while 2.2 million children under five suffer from acute malnutrition.

Yemen imports roughly 90 percent of its food, leaving families highly dependent on external supply lines. Monitoring by the WFP shows that 74 percent of households cannot meet basic food needs, the highest level recorded so far this year.

WFP tracking indicates that severe acute malnutrition remains a major threat to child survival in Yemen. Children developing medical complications require inpatient treatment and timely access to appropriate medicines and supplies.

While prioritizing the most critical cases, KA‑RELIEF emphasizes early detection and treatment of moderate acute malnutrition to prevent progression and reduce reliance on intensive care.

The KA‑RELIEF‑WHO initiative provides assistance across priority regions including Abyan, Aden, Al‑Dhilʿe, Al‑Mahrah, Al‑Makhla, Lahj, Marib, Siyoon, Shabwah, Socotra and Taiz.

Under the twelve‑month program the WHO will procure and distribute 402 pediatric and severe acute malnutrition kits containing essential oral and injectable medicines, intravenous fluids, supplies and equipment to 35 therapeutic feeding centers. The project works closely with Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population, allocating resources according to facility caseload and utilization rates to ensure continuous care.

It is expected to directly benefit approximately 18,282 children under five.

Dr. Al‑Moyalem stated: “This partnership reaffirms the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s dedication to addressing urgent humanitarian needs and improving the health and well‑being of vulnerable children in Yemen.”

The collaboration builds on a long‑standing WHO‑KA‑RELIEF partnership aimed at sustaining essential health and nutrition services in Yemen. By securing therapeutic feeding centers with required medicines, equipment and staff, the programme enables health workers to offer timely, high‑quality care for children battling severe acute malnutrition.

Over the duration of the project, the WHO will guarantee sufficient stock of nutritious and medical supplies, aiming to curb preventable illnesses and deaths among youth while bolstering the resilience of Yemen’s health system.

Parallelly, the WHO reports a complex health emergency unfolding in Yemen, marked by rises in cases of cholera, measles, dengue and malaria. KA‑RELIEF continues to operate across humanitarian sectors such as health, food security, education, water and sanitation, shelter, nutrition, protection and early recovery.

Since its establishment in 2015, KA‑RELIEF has become Yemen’s principal recipient of humanitarian assistance. By October 2026, the organization had completed 1,228 projects in the country with cumulative expenditures exceeding $4.79 billion.

In the food‑security sector alone, KA‑RELIEF launched 158 major programmes costing more than $1.51 billion, with additional efforts still active nationwide.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly been one of the largest donors to humanitarian response plans in Yemen. In 2016 it contributed $10 million to the WFP to address escalating malnutrition and support children in the Hodeidah Governorate.

During preparations for a 2020 virtual donor conference, Al‑Rabeeah underscored the persistent priority on Yemen’s humanitarian crisis and the deep historical, religious, economic and social ties linking Saudi Arabia and Yemen. He also hoped for peace, urging the Kingdom’s support for political solutions.

Al‑Rabeeah reiterated that the Kingdom seeks lasting peace, security and prosperity in Yemen, stating that such stability strengthens regional equilibrium within the Arab and Gulf contexts.

Founded in 1948, the World Health Organization is the UN entity leading global health initiatives, expanding universal health coverage, coordinating emergency response, and promoting worldwide well‑being.

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