Aden – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced an emergency allocation of $100 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support underfunded humanitarian crises worldwide, with Yemen receiving a significant share of the funding.

According to OCHA, $20 million of the newly released funds will be directed toward humanitarian operations in Yemen, where millions continue to face acute food insecurity, displacement, and limited access to healthcare amid ongoing conflict and economic collapse.

Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, emphasized the urgency of the allocation: “In far too many humanitarian emergencies, a lack of funding prevents aid agencies from reaching people who need life-saving assistance, and that is heart-wrenching,” she said.

The funding aims to bolster critical relief efforts, including food distribution, medical services, and shelter support for vulnerable populations across Yemen. It also reflects growing international concern over the widening gap between humanitarian needs and available donor resources. As of mid-2025, only 29% of the global humanitarian funding target has been met, leaving a staggering $35 billion shortfall.

This marks CERF’s second major allocation for underfunded emergencies this year, following a similar $100 million release in February. OCHA warned that despite these efforts, overall funding levels remain at their lowest in three years, threatening the sustainability of aid operations in crisis zones like Yemen.

Humanitarian agencies operating in the country welcomed the announcement but stressed the need for sustained and predictable funding to prevent further deterioration of conditions on the ground.