The European Union has announced a €5 million humanitarian grant to bolster Yemen’s collapsing health system, with a focus on reproductive health and emergency protection services for women and girls across the country.

The funding will be channeled through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), described by EU officials as a “trusted humanitarian partner,” to ensure that life-saving services reach the most vulnerable populations, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas.

According to Andreas Papaconstantinou, Director of Operations for the Middle East at the EU’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), the grant comes at a critical time as millions of women in Yemen face growing barriers to basic healthcare, including maternal care and protection from gender-based violence.

Recent UN data indicates that over 5 million women of reproductive age, including pregnant and lactating mothers, are struggling to access essential health services. Meanwhile, 6.2 million women and girls are at risk of gender-based violence, with more than 1.5 million depending on humanitarian programs that are now threatened by funding shortages.