Source: Amnesty International –
El Salvador: Authorities remain silent over request for humanitarian visit to Ruth López
Source: Amnesty International –
As human rights defender Ruth López spends her second birthday behind bars, Amnesty International reiterates its request to the Salvadoran authorities to conduct a humanitarian visit and calls for her immediate and unconditional release.
On 1 August 2026, Amnesty International sent formal communications to the Attorney General, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, the Director General of Prisons, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the judge in charge of the case, requesting authorization for a high-level delegation from the organization to visit Ruth López and directly assess her conditions of detention. The request was reiterated on 26 August and, to date, none of the five authorities has responded. Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Americas Director, said:
The authorities’ silence appears increasingly deliberate with each passing day. Every minute that passes makes it even more necessary to allow an independent assessment of Ruth’s conditions in prison.”
Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Americas Director
Ruth López has faced proceedings marred by irregularities, which have also been questioned by UN Special Rapporteurs, who have warned that the circumstances of her detention point to retaliation for her legitimate and peaceful work as a human rights defender.
At the end of last year, we addressed a public letter to the Human Rights Ombudsperson, highlighting the lack of diligent action in Ruth’s case. In addition to the absence of an independent and effective national mechanism to monitor the situation of people deprived of their liberty in El Salvador, there is now a de facto refusal to allow international scrutiny. Today, more than 16 months after her detention, there is still no certainty about the conditions in which she is being held.
To Ruth and her family, we want to send a message of solidarity and reaffirm our commitment to keeping alive the demand for her immediate and unconditional release. At this very moment, thousands of people around the world are mobilizing through the Write for Rights campaign, driven by the conviction that, sooner rather than later, Ruth will be free.”
Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Americas Director
Amnesty International calls on the authorities to respond promptly to its requests for a humanitarian visit and reiterates its readiness to carry out the visit at the earliest opportunity.
Azerbaijan: Authorities must immediately release activist Bahruz Samadov who cut himself during latest court appearance
Source: Amnesty International –
Reacting to reports that imprisoned Azerbaijani researcher and peace activist Bahruz Samadov harmed himself during a Supreme Court hearing on 25 September, Natalia Nozadze, Amnesty International’s South Caucasus Researcher, said:
“Azerbaijani authorities are obliged to protect and fulfil Bahruz Samadov’s right to health while he remains unjustly imprisoned. While they continue to deny him access to adequate healthcare, including mental health support, his health condition is worsening. The denial of health care, and the restrictions on family contact, may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, contrary to Azerbaijan’s international human rights obligations.”
“Bahruz Samadov should not have been imprisoned in the first place. He is serving a 15-year sentence on fabricated ‘high treason’ charges stemming from his peaceful activism, journalism and advocacy for dialogue with Armenia. The Azerbaijani authorities must release him immediately and unconditionally.”
Background
On 25 September, Bahruz Samadov used a sharp object to cut his right arm several times during a break in a Supreme Court hearing on 25 September, according to his lawyer, Zibeyda Sadigova.
Bahruz Samadov, an Azerbaijani researcher, peace activist and former OC Media contributor, was arrested in Baku on 21 August 2024. He was charged with “high treason” for his contacts with Armenian nationals in relation to his post-conflict and peace activism. On 23 June 2025, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison following an unfair trial. Amnesty International considers the charges against him fabricated and has repeatedly called for his immediate and unconditional release.
Austria: “End Genocide” protest at UEFA Nations League Israel game
Source: Amnesty International –
As the group phase of the 2026/27 men’s UEFA Nations League kicked off tonight, during the Austria vs Israel football match in Linz, Amnesty International Austria displayed a banner inside the stadium saying: “END GENOCIDE”.
Amnesty International is calling on UEFA and FIFA to suspend the Israel Football Association (IFA), due to clear evidence that it continues to support illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).
Our protest is directed against many governments and sporting authorities that know exactly what is happening in the Gaza Strip and still do nothing
Alexander Weihrauch, Campaigner at Amnesty International Austria
“Today, thousands of people watched the Austria vs Israel match in Linz. For a moment, we directed their gaze towards Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where death and suffering continue despite the so-called ceasefire.
“Our protest is directed against many governments and sporting authorities that know exactly what is happening in the Gaza Strip and still do nothing to stand against genocide,” said Alexander Weihrauch, Campaigner at Amnesty International Austria.
“Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, its system of apartheid against all Palestinians, including the ethnic cleansing in Area C of the West Bank and its unlawful occupation of the whole OPT must not disappear from public attention.
“Silence in the face of Israel’s long-standing serious violations of Palestinians’ rights and of its utter disregard of its international legal obligations further entrenches Israel’s impunity and the continued suffering of Palestinians. This must end, Israel must be held accountable for its violations of international law.”
For photos and AV materials click here
Background
In October 2025, Amnesty International wrote to FIFA and UEFA calling for the suspension of the IFA unless clubs from illegal settlements in OPT were immediately excluded from participating in domestic Israeli leagues.
In March 2026, FIFA announced that no action will be taken against IFA over the participation of clubs based in illegal settlements in Israel’s leagues. With this position FIFA is indirectly legitimizing, and risks contributing to, Israel’s unlawful occupation and its severe human rights violations and international crimes against Palestinians, including the genocide in the Gaza Strip and crime against humanity of apartheid, while also ignoring the International Court of Justice’s 2024 Advisory Opinion. Amnesty International is also calling on the Austrian government (as well as governments from all EU member states) to support the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, ban all trade relations with Israeli entities most responsible for international crimes against Palestinians, including settlements in the OPT, and support international and national justice mechanisms seeking to hold perpetrators to account.
At the beginning of September, 12 states, including eight EU member states, announced the intention to adopt restrictions on goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the unlawfully occupied West Bank. Austria did not join this initiative.
Photos and footage here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1E2ouAa0VA9HtsR7ZGtXXWZavqMW_VMLB
The Metals Company CEO claims destructive industry is only “picking up rocks”
Source: Greenpeace Statement –
© Stephanie Keith / Greenpeace
New York, N.Y. (September 23, 2026) – The Metals Company (TMC) CEO Gerard Barron, in his appearance at the annual New York Times Climate Forward event, minimized the environmental risks of deep sea mining by characterizing the destructive industry as “picking up rocks.” Barron also described calls for a moratorium by scientists, corporations and environmental activists as “virtue signaling” and “a vote against science.”
In response to Barron’s remarks, Jackie Dragon, Senior Oceans Campaigner at Greenpeace USA, said: “The Metals Company has not shown that mining the ocean would replace mining on land, reduce pollution from mineral processing, or deliver the mineral independence it promises. The international seabed is our common heritage, and that’s exactly why no country should act alone in handing it over to one corporation. The deep ocean should not become a sacrifice zone for an industry that can’t prove its case.”
The Metals Company is seeking U.S. authorization to mine polymetallic nodules in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone of the Pacific Ocean, in a move that is inconsistent with international law. Its application remains under review by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and no commercial recovery permit has been issued.
Jane Fonda, actor, activist, and executive producer of the Greenpeace USA documentary GASLIT, who earlier participated in the event as a mainstage speaker, called for an end to efforts to launch deep sea mining.
Fonda said: “In the effort to save the planet and cool the planet, let’s not move to regrettable alternatives. Deep sea mining is a very regrettable alternative. And with conservation, innovation, and reusing, we don’t really need to go 2.5 miles down and destroy the bottom of the ocean when we don’t even know what’s happening down there. Biodiversity is one of the things that allow human beings to be alive. So let’s not minimize the importance of biodiversity.
“The ocean provides oxygen, food, and protein for two billion people. We can not allow it to become sicker than it already is. It’s already borrowed. We have to protect it. Deep sea mining does the opposite. We cannot allow that to happen.”
The International Seabed Authority, which administers mineral activities in the international seabed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, has not approved commercial mining. Forty-six countries have called for a ban, moratorium, or precautionary pause.
Contact: Tanya Brooks, Senior Communications Specialist at Greenpeace USA, [email protected]
Greenpeace USA Press Desk: [email protected]
Greenpeace USA (inc.) is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.
The IMF is "taking another step back towards the dark era of structural adjustment," says Oxfam
Source: Oxfam –
Responding to the IMF Executive Board concluding its 2026 Review of Program Design and Conditionality, Oxfam International’s Senior Policy Advisor Nabil Abdo said:
“Civil society organizations warned the IMF what frontloaded fiscal adjustment would mean in practice: large spending cuts imposed all at once, leaving ordinary people to pay the price. It is the same failed shock therapy that devastated countries and communities in the past. The warnings were swept aside, even though many board members echoed civil society’s concerns.
“At a time of economic turmoil and repeated shocks, the Fund had a chance to show struggling countries that it had changed. That it would listen. That it would help countries weather crises without exacerbating inequality and hardship. Instead, it chose to double down on a model that has already caused so much damage, taking another step back towards the dark era of structural adjustment.
“We do welcome the Board’s recognition that distributional impacts need to be considered in the design of IMF programs. But recognition on paper must be systematically translated into the design and implementation of programs.”
Annie Thériault in Peru | annie.theriault@oxfam.org | +51 936 307 990
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Yemen: One year on, Huthis must release arbitrarily detained lawyer Abdul Majid Sabra
Source: Amnesty International –
One year ago on 25 September 2025, the Huthi de facto authorities in Sana’a arbitrarily detained prominent lawyer and human rights defender Abdul Majid Sabra. In response, Diala Haidar, Amnesty International’s Yemen Researcher, said:
“Abdul Majid Sabra, a lawyer who dedicated his career to defending those detained based on the peaceful exercise of their human rights, continues to be arbitrarily detained at the Huthi-run Security and Intelligence detention centre in Chamlan. He was arrested from his office a day ahead of the anniversary of Yemen’s 26th of September Revolution, a date the Huthis oppose celebrating. According to a relative, he was interrogated about his social media posts marking the anniversary and about his profession as a human rights lawyer. To date, he has not been formally charged.
“Abdul Majid Sabra’s case is emblematic of the Huthis’ broader authoritarian practices to target critics, lawyers, human rights defenders and human rights and civil society workers in their attempt to control civic space and silence dissent. Their complete disregard of international human rights law, the rule of law and fair trial rights has made a mockery of the judiciary system under their control.
“The Huthi de facto authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Abdul Majid Sabra and all those arbitrarily detained solely for peacefully exercising their human rights and end their campaign against dissent.”
États-Unis. Amnesty International demande la suppression de l’ICE après avoir établi les violations généralisées des droits humains lors des opérations anti-immigration
Source: Amnesty International –
Dans un nouveau rapport publié le 24 septembre 2026, Amnesty International recense les violations généralisées des droits humains commises par le Service de contrôle de l’immigration et des douanes (ICE), le Service des douanes et de la protection des frontières (CBP) et d’autres agences fédérales des États-Unis lors d’opérations de contrôle de l’immigration, militarisées et de grande ampleur, menées à l’initiative du gouvernement de Donald Trump à Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, La Nouvelle-Orléans et Washington.
Intitulé « On avait des sifflets et eux, des pistolets » : violations des droits humains dans le cadre des opérations des services de l’immigration aux États-Unis et arguments en faveur de la suppression de l’ICE, ce rapport démontre que le gouvernement de Donald Trump met en place un système de détention et d’expulsion massives, nourri par des discours racistes, xénophobes et mensongers, dont l’objectif est de détenir et d’expulser du territoire états-unien le plus grand nombre possible de personnes migrantes, demandeuses d’asile ou réfugiées, et de susciter la peur parmi l’ensemble des populations immigrées.
« Notre rapport pointe du doigt les violations des droits humains commises à travers les États-Unis dans le but d’instiller la peur parmi les populations migrantes, demandeuses d’asile et réfugiées, a déclaré Nadia Daar, directrice d’Amnesty International États-Unis. Le bilan de l’ICE en matière de violations des droits n’a rien de nouveau, mais nos recherches montrent que bon nombre de ces pratiques ont franchi un cap en termes de danger. »
Notre rapport pointe du doigt les violations des droits humains commises à travers les États-Unis dans le but d’instiller la peur parmi les populations migrantes, demandeuses d’asile et réfugiées
Nadia Daar, directrice d’Amnesty International États-Unis
Le gouvernement de Donald Trump s’est rendu responsable d’une multitude d’atteintes aux droits humains, entre autres des homicides illégaux, dont certains pourraient constituer des exécutions extrajudiciaires, des détentions au secret arbitraires et discriminatoires, y compris de possibles disparitions forcées, parfois dans des conditions susceptibles de bafouer l’interdiction de la torture, ainsi qu’une répression violente de manifestations pacifiques. Forte de ces conclusions, Amnesty International se joint au concert de voix des citoyen·ne·s qui réclament la suppression immédiate de l’ICE.
Il faut supprimer l’ICE
Les conclusions d’Amnesty International attestent que les violations recensées au cours des quatre opérations qui ont fait l’objet de recherches ne constituaient pas des incidents isolés ou exceptionnels, mais s’inscrivaient dans un schéma récurrent de violences ayant de terribles conséquences pour les immigrant·e·s et des communautés entières.
« Le fait que des agents fédéraux masqués et armés s’en prennent en toute impunité à des gens dans la rue ne rend pas nos quartiers plus sûrs : cela met tout le monde en danger », a déclaré Nadia Daar. « L’ICE est défaillant par nature et ne peut être réformé. Pour que le gouvernement américain dispose d’un système de contrôle de l’immigration qui respecte le droit international relatif aux droits humains et les normes connexes, il faut supprimer l’ICE et repartir de zéro. »
L’ICE est défaillant par nature et ne peut être réformé. Pour que le gouvernement américain dispose d’un système de contrôle de l’immigration qui respecte le droit international relatif aux droits humains et les normes connexes, il faut supprimer l’ICE et repartir de zéro
Nadia Daar, directrice d’Amnesty International États-Unis
Le Service de contrôle de l’immigration et des douanes (ICE) a été créé dans le sillage des attentats du 11 septembre 2001 ; dans les années qui ont suivi, un arsenal de sécurité très problématique a été adopté. Amnesty International et d’autres organisations ont relevé les violations des droits humains imputables à l’ICE, ainsi que l’absence inquiétante de supervision et d’établissement des responsabilités depuis sa création en 2003. Toutefois, les agissements dont nous sommes témoins depuis janvier 2025, alimentés par des milliards de dollars supplémentaires et une impunité persistante, atteignent des sommets en termes d’ampleur et d’horreur.
Violations des droits humains
Ces quatre opérations ont donné lieu à des violations des droits des populations immigrées, demandeuses d’asile et réfugiées, des personnes profilées comme immigrées, des communautés noires et de couleur, mais aussi de ceux qui leur sont venus en aide et ont contesté les actions du gouvernement de Donald Trump. Elles ont également instauré un climat de peur omniprésent qui s’est répandu au sein de communautés entières.
Lors de ces quatre opérations, Amnesty International a constaté :
- Discriminations raciales et détentions arbitraires lors des opérations d’application de la législation sur l’immigration
- Harcèlement, intimidation, traitement dégradant et recours injustifié à la force par des agent·e·s fédéraux
- Recours à la force meurtrière et homicides illégaux imputables à des agent·e·s fédéraux qui doivent faire l’objet d’investigations en tant qu’exécutions extrajudiciaires
- Répression des manifestations et usage d’armes à létalité réduite, notamment du gaz lacrymogène et du gaz poivre, par des agent·e·s fédéraux
- Surveillance illégale et technologie de reconnaissance faciale
- Conditions de détention inhumaines et privation de procédures régulières, qui doivent faire l’objet d’investigations en tant qu’actes de torture
- Détention illégale au secret et possibles actes de disparitions forcées.
Comme l’étaye ce rapport, les agent·e·s de l’ICE évoluaient au sein d’un environnement institutionnel, ouvertement soutenu et renforcé par le pouvoir états-unien, dans lequel de hauts responsables gouvernementaux, dont le président Donald Trump lui-même, encourageaient des pratiques violentes et discriminatoires sur le plan racial s’agissant d’appliquer la législation sur l’immigration. Les agent·e·s travaillaient fréquemment sans aucun signe d’identification, les garde-fous censés permettre de prévenir et de traiter les fautes étaient affaiblis ou anéantis, les violations des droits humains étaient rarement suivies de véritables enquêtes et de poursuites contre les responsables.
Ce rapport expose le témoignage de Liish Kozlowski, représentante de l’État du Minnesota, d’origine ojibwé et latino-américaine, qui a déclaré : « Ma cousine se trouvait dans sa voiture, en route pour aller travailler avec son mari. Des agent·e·s de l’ICE ont débarqué, littéralement à la recherche de personnes noires et de couleur. Ils l’ont mise en joue et ont brisé sa vitre. Ils l’ont brutalisée, elle était enceinte. Son mari a crié : “Elle est autochtone, voici sa carte d’identité tribale.” “On s’en fout [juron], c’est notre terre maintenant”, a répondu un agent de l’ICE. »
Ma cousine se trouvait dans sa voiture, en route pour aller travailler avec son mari. Des agent·e·s de l’ICE ont débarqué, littéralement à la recherche de personnes noires et de couleur. Ils l’ont mise en joue et ont brisé sa vitre. Ils l’ont brutalisée, elle était enceinte. Son mari a crié : “Elle est autochtone, voici sa carte d’identité tribale.” “On s’en fout [juron], c’est notre terre maintenant”, a répondu un agent de l’ICE
Ce n’est là qu’un exemple parmi des dizaines cités dans le rapport où des agent·e·s de l’ICE se sont livrés à un profilage racial manifeste.
« Le profilage racial, les arrestations impromptues dans la rue, la séparation des familles et les détentions arbitraires sont des pratiques illégales et cruelles, mais aussi très préjudiciables, a déclaré Ana Piquer, directrice du programme Amériques à Amnesty International. Elles bafouent les droits humains et sont source de peur, de détresse psychologique et de problèmes de santé durables pour les enfants, les proches et des communautés entières. »
Le profilage racial, les arrestations impromptues dans la rue, la séparation des familles et les détentions arbitraires sont des pratiques illégales et cruelles, mais aussi très préjudiciables
Ana Piquer, directrice du programme Amériques à Amnesty International
Par ailleurs, le rapport met en lumière la mobilisation des citoyen·ne·s pour résister et se protéger mutuellement. Ces réseaux ont joué un rôle essentiel s’agissant de recenser les violations des droits humains et de soutenir ses voisins, grâce à des réseaux d’entraide, des formations d’observateurs·trices constitutionnels, des réseaux de mobilisation rapide, des « pédibus » pour aller à l’école, et tant d’autres initiatives visant à aider et protéger les personnes les plus directement touchées. Les manifestations ont été un instrument de résistance majeur, mais ont fréquemment donné lieu à de nouveaux actes illégaux imputables à des agent·e·s de l’ICE et de la police des frontières.
À Chicago, par exemple, le centre Broadview est devenu un point de ralliement pour dénoncer les agissements de l’ICE et de la police des frontières dans la ville. Le révérend David Black, qui se rendait fréquemment au centre Broadview pour y exercer son ministère, a déclaré : « L’escalade de la violence de la part de l’ICE et du CBP [Service des douanes et de la protection des frontières] à Broadview, alors que nous ne faisions que prier et scander des slogans, était terrifiante. » Au cours d’un service qu’il animait dans ce centre, David Black, en habits religieux, invitait trois agent·e·s fédéraux postés sur le toit à se repentir, lorsque ceux-ci lui ont soudainement tiré dessus, le touchant au visage, aux bras et au torse avec des cartouches explosives de gaz poivre. Son histoire compte parmi les nombreux témoignages présentés dans le rapport.
Ce rapport expose bien d’autres violations des droits humains perpétrées au cours de ces opérations cruelles des services de l’immigration. Les chercheurs·euses d’Amnesty International ont interrogé 154 personnes sur les quatre endroits concernés, ce qui leur a permis d’analyser l’impact de ces opérations sur plusieurs communautés dans divers contextes politiques, juridiques et historiques, et de conclure que les violations recensées illustrent des tendances nationales plus larges et non des incidents locaux isolés.
« Quel déchirement de voir la douleur et la souffrance causées par ce gouvernement, qui criminalise et diabolise les immigré·e·s, a déclaré Nadia Daar. Mais je garde espoir : des citoyen·ne·s se mobilisent aux côtés des personnes ciblées et, dans certains cas, ont contraint le gouvernement états-unien à faire marche arrière. Nous devons demander des comptes aux responsables gouvernementaux à l’initiative de ce règne de la terreur et continuer à nous battre pour un système d’immigration fondé, non pas sur la cruauté, mais sur les droits humains et la dignité. »
Quel déchirement de voir la douleur et la souffrance causées par ce gouvernement, qui criminalise et diabolise les immigré·e·s, a déclaré Nadia Daar. Mais je garde espoir : des citoyen·ne·s se mobilisent aux côtés des personnes ciblées et, dans certains cas, ont contraint le gouvernement états-unien à faire marche arrière. Nous devons demander des comptes aux responsables gouvernementaux à l’initiative de ce règne de la terreur et continuer à nous battre pour un système d’immigration fondé, non pas sur la cruauté, mais sur les droits humains et la dignité
Nadia Daar, directrice d’Amnesty International États-Unis
Ireland: Sale of Israel Bonds finally ends in Europe
Source: Amnesty International –
Reacting to the Central Bank of Ireland’s confirmation that on the expiry of the Israel Bonds’ prospectus their sale in Europe has ended Stephen Cockburn, Amnesty International’s Europe Director, said:
“This outcome is a testament to the indefatigable campaigners who protested outside the Central Bank for more than a year, supported by the Parliamentarians who kept pushing for Ireland’s compliance with international law in the halls of power, and all those who spoke out against these Bonds’ sale in Europe.
Today’s confirmation of the end of Israel Bonds’ sale in Europe shows just what this solidarity can achieve
Steve Cockburn, Europe Director at Amnesty International
“States have a clear obligation to act to end Israel’s violations against Palestinians. Rejecting any involvement in Israel’s genocide, apartheid and other international crimes, requires courage and conviction as states in Europe continue to crackdown on this vital activism.
“Today’s confirmation of the end of Israel Bonds’ sale in Europe shows just what this solidarity can achieve. We must continue talking about Palestinians lives and rejecting complacency and complicity.”
Background
To be sold in the European Economic Area (EEA), the prospectus for Israel Bonds needs to be approved by a competent authority in an EU member state. Since 2021 Ireland has been the ‘home member state’ for Israel Bonds. Due to the public pressure in response to Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in the occupied Gaza Strip, in 2025 the Central Bank of Ireland transferred the prospectus to Luxembourg whose competent financial authority approved it. This prospectus expired on 31 August 2026.
In July, Luxembourg’s financial regulator rejected to approve the prospectus for another year. The decision came after increasing pressure from civil society and legal experts. They mobilized and published research to support their call to the authorities to stop the bonds.
Amnesty International has been calling on Ireland, Luxembourg and other EU states not to allow the sale of Israel Bonds in Europe.
Yemen Cannot Wait
Source: Oxfam –
Joint statement by humanitarian, development and civil-society organizations
Leaders at UNGA 81 should act on interconnected priorities: protect life-saving assistance and humanitarian access now, particularly for those most at risk; keep essential services and livelihoods functioning; and support an inclusive Yemeni-led peace process.
Displaced families head toward Al-Shaqadif Camp and its surrounding areas after leaving Al-Malika Camp, fleeing the escalation of shelling and military operations in the area. Almaafer/Taiz, September 2026. (Photo: Hussam Alshurmani/Oxfam)
A crisis intensifying, not contained
Across Yemen, 22.3 million people need humanitarian assistance and protection. At least 18.3 million people are acutely food insecure, while more than 2.2 million children under five and 1.3 million pregnant and breastfeeding women are acutely malnourished. Food security is therefore among the most urgent priorities. The impacts are not experienced equally: women and girls face heightened malnutrition and protection risks, and adolescent girls are especially vulnerable as household economic pressure intensifies.
The latest partial IPC analysis covers Government of Yemen-controlled areas only. It projects 5.4 million people in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3+) during June to September 2026, including 1.6 million in Emergency (IPC Phase 4). The absence of comparable current IPC analysis for northern Yemen must not be interpreted as evidence of lower need. The most recent IPC projection for areas under the Sana’a-based authorities covered September 2025 to February 2026 and projected 12.8 million people in IPC Phase 3 or above, including more than 41,000 in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). These periods are not directly comparable, but together they underline the scale of need and the importance of protecting independent needs assessment and data collection across all of Yemen.
Regional tensions and renewed fighting inside Yemen are sharply increasing risks to civilians and to the fragile gains of the 2022 truce. On 7 August, the UN Special Envoy warned that Yemen faced a greater risk of renewed large-scale conflict than at any point since the April 2022 truce, citing attacks in Ma’rib and Hadramawt that reportedly caused civilian casualties, renewed attacks on commercial shipping, and strikes on civilian infrastructure including airports. Military activity has since intensified across multiple front lines. Renewed fighting is also driving rapidly rising displacement. As of 18 September, IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix had recorded more than 120,000 people displaced since the current escalation began in June, particularly in Ta’iz and Lahj. This reflects only movements captured through IOM tracking, not a comprehensive national total, and recorded displacement continues to rise. All parties must de-escalate, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and avoid drawing Yemen deeper into the wider regional confrontation.
The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan seeks US$2.16 billion to reach 12 million people, including 9.4 million prioritised for targeted life-saving assistance. As leaders gather for the UN General Assembly, the Yemen response remains severely underfunded relative to the scale of needs. Further contraction will mean fewer nutrition, health, water, sanitation, education, protection and cash services, while also reducing the staff, systems and local organisations needed to respond to new shocks.
The choice is not between humanitarian relief and recovery. Yemen needs both.
Keeping people alive while essential systems continue to fail only pushes humanitarian need forward. Financing essential services, livelihoods and local delivery capacity is part of preventing further deterioration and reducing future needs.
Economic decline and failing services are humanitarian needs drivers
Yemen’s humanitarian emergency cannot be separated from the economy. The World Bank estimates that national real GDP contracted by 1.5 per cent in 2025 and projects a further 0.5 per cent contraction in 2026; government revenue fell to 5.6 per cent of GDP. Weak revenues, disrupted salaries, limited access to finance and rising costs reduce household purchasing power, placing particular pressure on women who often absorb increased unpaid responsibilities, while also undermining the ability of public institutions to keep health, water and education services functioning.
Regional disruption adds to the pressure on a country that depends heavily on imported essentials. Yemen is highly exposed to rising global prices, supply disruptions and increased shipping costs. Disruptions linked to the wider Middle East conflict and regional shipping routes are increasing transport and input costs, threatening food affordability and further eroding household purchasing power. Climate shocks, particularly water scarcity, drought and flooding, compound the same vulnerabilities. International support should therefore protect basic services and household incomes while expanding climate-adapted water systems, renewable energy for essential services, agriculture, fisheries and livelihoods. These investments should not be postponed until after a comprehensive political settlement.
Hunger, nutrition, health and water needs will surge without support
Yemen is facing a dangerous deterioration in hunger just as funding cuts and operational constraints are scaling back critical life-saving services. In 2026, 14.4 million people require water, sanitation and hygiene assistance, while only 59.3 per cent of health facilities are fully functional. Reduced WASH capacity limits access to safe water and sanitation and increases public-health risks, while health facilities in parts of the country face shortages of medicines, nutrition supplies, staff and operating support as humanitarian programmes reduce or halt services. Humanitarian organisations working in northern governorates report massive unmet food security, malnutrition and health needs, while the lack of current comprehensive data limits visibility of the full scale of the crisis. Women, girls and children face particular risks when such services are disrupted, including barriers to maternal, sexual and reproductive health care, greater exposure to preventable disease, and protection risks. The response must prioritise safe water and sanitation, food, nutrition and essential health services, including mental health and psychosocial support, across all of Yemen and sustain support close to communities before conditions deteriorate further.
Humanitarian access and aid-worker safety must be protected
Humanitarian organisations cannot respond effectively when personnel face detention, threats or restrictions on safely reaching the communities they serve. Since June 2024, dozens of national staff from the United Nations, national and international NGOs, civil-society organisations and diplomatic missions have been arbitrarily detained by the de facto authorities (DFA) in Sana’a, alongside personnel detained in earlier and later waves. These detentions harm staff and their families and constrain humanitarian and development action.
All arbitrarily detained UN, NGO, civil-society and diplomatic personnel should be released immediately, safely and unconditionally.
All parties and authorities should ensure full, safe and sustained humanitarian access; protect national and international aid personnel and local organizations; remove unnecessary administrative impediments; and enable the safe movement of female humanitarian staff whose access is essential to reach women and girls in communities. Independent needs assessments must be possible wherever needs exist. Member States and regional actors should sustain diplomatic engagement to secure the release of arbitrarily detained personnel.
What leaders at UNGA 81 should deliver
During High-Level Week, Member States, donors, United Nations leaders and international financial institutions should turn these priorities into five practical outcomes:
- Fund the response before more capacity is lost.
Commit additional financing for the 2026 Yemen response and prioritise flexible, multi-year support for food, nutrition, health, mental health and psychosocial support, water and sanitation, education, protection and multipurpose cash, including for women, girls and other groups facing barriers to assistance. Protect the ability of organisations to retain staff, systems and readiness in underserved areas. Further cuts will not only reduce assistance today; they will erode the capacity to respond to the needs of millions of Yemenis tomorrow.
- Facilitate safe, unimpeded humanitarian and commercial access.
Press for the immediate release of arbitrarily detained personnel and for full, safe and sustained humanitarian access. Ensure sanctions and counter-terrorism safeguards are usable in practice and resolve legitimate payment barriers quickly so humanitarian and commercial actors can continue to operate. Safeguard humanitarian supply chains and commercial imports to support timely delivery of life-saving commodities and essential goods.
- De-escalate the conflict and protect civilians.
Use diplomatic engagement to press all parties to immediately de-escalate and comply with international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and civilian objects. This includes schools, hospitals, water systems, roads, ports and airports that provide vital lifelines for millions of people. All parties must renew meaningful efforts towards an inclusive Yemeni-led political process under United Nations auspices that can put the country on a path to sustainable peace.
- Keep essential systems functioning and reduce pressure on households.
Align humanitarian, development and economic support around health, water, education, social protection, livelihoods and purchasing power, while addressing the disproportionate burdens faced by women. Support practical, transparent and nationally inclusive arrangements for regular public-sector salary payments, protected from political interference and addressed within wider economic and peace negotiations. Protecting household purchasing power and the systems people depend on is essential to preventing further humanitarian deterioration.
- Finance recovery, climate adaptation and inclusive peace now.
Invest now in climate-adapted water infrastructure, renewable energy for essential services, livelihoods and local economic recovery. Ensure Yemeni civil society, particularly women’s organizations, women, young people, affected communities, local authorities, marginalized groups and persons with disabilities, have meaningful influence over humanitarian, recovery and peace priorities before decisions are made.
Yemen cannot wait for compounding shocks to make its crisis visible again.
Leaders meeting in New York should use national statements, bilateral meetings and financing decisions to prioritize Yemen, protect civilians and humanitarian access, keep commercial lifelines and essential services functioning, and invest in a Yemeni-led path out of crisis.