Pregnant women in Yemen at growing risk as healthcare limited by fighting

Africa News
Oct 19, 2026

Pregnant women in Yemen at growing risk as healthcare limited by fighting


omen in Yemen face growing risks as fighting between the Iran-backed Houthis and the Saudi-backed government forces limits reproductive health care with some facilities providing emergency obstetric care repurposing to treat war-wounded, the United Nations said Friday.

Francesco Galtieri, the UN Population Fund’s representative in Yemen, told The Associated Press that about three women were dying each day due to pregnancy and childbirth-related causes as recently as eight weeks ago. Now, sudden displacement and growing uncertainty are worsening the situation, limiting services further for pregnant women and women of reproductive age.

Since early September, more than 3,100 pregnant women have been displaced, according to UNFPA. The agency said earlier in an update that nine UNFPA-supported health facilities have reportedly been destroyed or rendered nonfunctional and eight others have suspended services.