Executive Summary
In 2025, Yemen experienced a significant increase in violence against healthcare, with 48 incidents reported, including attacks on facilities, arrests of health workers, and raids. This violence, primarily by Houthi forces, exacerbated an already fragile healthcare system and a severe cholera crisis, further limiting access to essential services for millions.
Why It Matters
This document is crucial for defense and geopolitical analysts as it details the systematic targeting of healthcare infrastructure and personnel in Yemen, highlighting a critical aspect of modern conflict and its devastating humanitarian impact.
Key Takeaways
- Violence against healthcare in Yemen significantly increased in 2025, with 48 reported incidents, primarily by Houthi forces.
- Incidents included arrests of 17 health workers, 12 violent raids on facilities, and 9 facilities damaged or destroyed, often by airstrikes.
- Funding cuts, particularly from USAID, severely hampered humanitarian health responses, exacerbating the cholera crisis and limiting access to care for millions.
Strategic Relevance
The deliberate targeting of healthcare in Yemen by various conflict parties, including state and non-state actors, demonstrates a disregard for international humanitarian law and has severe implications for civilian populations, potentially prolonging instability and humanitarian crises.