Married at 13, pregnant and starving: Child brides of Yemen

Fatimah was married at 13 and became a mother at 15, but war in Yemen destroyed clinics and livelihoods, pushing her family into hunger. Pregnant girls like her face malnutrition, anaemia and exhaustion, with many unable to access basic healthcare. UNFPA reports that over half of Yemen’s 22 million people needing aid are women and girls, with fewer than two-thirds of health facilities still functioning.

UNFPA estimates 1.3 million pregnant and breastfeeding women in Yemen are malnourished, while 100,000 have been displaced, increasing risks during childbirth. Health workers report patients arriving too late for preventable complications due to lack of transport, funds or nearby services. Social restrictions and staff shortages further limit access to maternal care across the country.

Fatimah’s husband was swept away by floods, leaving her to care for their daughters alone while pregnant again in a displacement camp with no income or healthcare. She described fearing for her unborn child more than for herself amid extreme hardship. Nearly 30% of Yemeni women receive no antenatal care, and only half give birth in health facilities, contributing to high maternal mortality rates.

Donia Adel, married at 15 and now eight months pregnant with her second child, was forced to leave school at eight due to poverty. She recalled feeling like a burden and having limited options, with 1.5 million girls in Yemen out of school. Pregnant girls face heightened labour risks, including preterm birth and severe bleeding, while malnutrition and strenuous work worsen outcomes for both mother and baby.