United Nations: Severe hunger crisis threatens 18 million in Yemen

Arab Sea Newspaper - News Updates

Arabian Sea - Yemen - Follow-ups: The United Nations warned on Saturday of a worsening hunger crisis in Yemen starting next September, with a continued severe funding shortage this year. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Yemen said in a statement on the X platform that "18 million people in Yemen, or 52% of the population of 35.6 million, will face acute hunger starting next September and need urgent humanitarian food assistance." It stated that 41,000 people will face extreme food insecurity to the point of catastrophe/famine (Phase 5 of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification). The office pointed out that at least one in five families will face a near-total lack of food and other basic needs, leading to increased exposure to the risk of starvation. The office called for the urgent provision of support in order to take immediate action to prevent the aggravation of the food insecurity crisis and avoid the spread of famine in Yemen, especially in high-risk areas. The United Nations Office in Yemen says that the humanitarian response plan in the country during the current year is still experiencing a severe shortage, as the funding received so far, despite the passage of 8 months, represents only 17% of the total requirements of the plan, amounting to $2.48 billion, to meet the humanitarian needs of about 10.5 million people.