Yemen's children face vaccine shortage as UNICEF suspends aid in Houthi zones
A shortage of routine vaccines in Houthi-controlled Yemen, caused by UNICEF’s suspension of operations, forces families to travel long distances and pay high costs for immunisation.
UNICEF stopped supplying vaccines to Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen after dozens of its workers were detained, leading to a complete depletion of routine childhood immunisations by July 2026. The Health Ministry in Sanaa says the halt was politically motivated, while the Aden ministry claims it has sufficient stock but faces Houthi obstruction to distribution. Families like that of 47-year-old Mirsal Adel now travel up to 75 km to Taiz, spending about $100 for a single visit to obtain polio and pneumococcal shots for their infants.
Health officials on both sides accuse the other of refusing shipments, and UNICEF and Gavi have not responded to requests for comment. The United Nations continues to demand the release of detained humanitarian staff and the removal of aid restrictions, warning that the lack of vaccines could have severe long-term health consequences for Yemen’s next generation.
Why it matters
Millions of Yemeni children risk preventable diseases due to halted vaccine deliveries amid the conflict.
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