Approximately five million children in Yemen are currently without access to essential routine vaccinations due to ongoing disputes. Mirsal Adel, a 47-year-old resident of Ibb, Yemen, reported difficulties in obtaining vaccines for his four-month-old son. He stated, "I visited the hospital more than once, and I was told that UNICEF, which used to provide the vaccines, stopped supplying them, with no word on when they might arrive."
In October 2025, UNICEF halted operations in areas controlled by the Houthis after the detention of numerous UN staff members and raids on its facilities. The Houthis have been in conflict with Yemen's internationally recognized government for several years, leading to periodic crackdowns on aid workers. The Health Ministry in Sanaa, the Houthi-held capital, confirmed to Al Jazeera that the last vaccine shipment was received on September 4, 2025. By late July 2026, the Health Ministry in Aden warned that nearly five million children in Houthi-controlled areas were cut off from essential immunizations.
Adel expressed concern for children's health, stating, "Our children’s health is a red line, and we must do everything we can to get them vaccinated." He traveled with his son to Taiz, a government-held city approximately 75 kilometers away, where vaccines are still available. The trip cost him about $100, which is a significant expense for many families in impoverished Yemen.
Despite securing initial doses of polio and pneumococcal vaccinations, Adel is anxious about future trips for vaccinations. He noted, "Vaccination teams used to go door-to-door to vaccinate children, but this year everything changed suddenly, and getting a reliable vaccine now costs a lot."
The conflict in Yemen began in late 2014 when the Houthis seized control of much of northern and western Yemen, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in support of the government in March 2015. A UN-brokered ceasefire in 2022 reduced fighting, but tensions have escalated since July.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, only 59.3 percent of Yemen’s health facilities were fully functional as of March this year, with overall vaccination coverage at 63 percent. However, these figures do not account for the complete exhaustion of vaccine supplies in Houthi-controlled areas by July, indicating that current coverage rates are likely much lower.
Anees al-Asbahi, spokesperson for the Health Ministry in Sanaa, attributed the vaccine supply collapse to UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, stating that authorities had informed both organizations about impending shortages without any action taken. Al-Asbahi claimed, "The primary reason for the disappearance of childhood vaccines is the politicisation of humanitarian work."
Gavi acknowledged operational and security challenges that have prevented vaccine delivery to northern Yemen since late 2025, expressing commitment to ensuring access to vaccines for children across Yemen. UNICEF declined to comment on the allegations but stated it is working to help children access vaccines.
The Health Ministry in Aden claimed sufficient vaccines are available for the entire country, including Houthi-controlled areas, but accused the Houthis of creating obstacles to the transport of these supplies. Deputy Health Minister Ali al-Waleedi stated that the ministry had planned two polio vaccination rounds this year but accused the Houthis of refusing to cooperate.
Al-Asbahi countered that there has been no coordination with the ministry in Aden, asserting that they cannot accept shipments arriving by road due to spoilage concerns. Parents like Mohammed Abdulwahed are waiting for a resolution to restore access to vaccines, stating, "I know some families are travelling to government-controlled areas, but that costs a lot, and I simply can’t afford it."
Healthcare worker Thikra, who has worked on vaccination teams, reported that many children from Houthi-controlled areas are arriving at clinics in Taiz for vaccinations. She emphasized the need for a solution, stating, "Political issues should be kept completely separate from children’s health, and both ministries must find a solution so all children can access free vaccines." Thikra urged the international community to intervene to prevent severe health consequences for the next generation if vaccine supplies are not restored.