From Foreign Policy · John Haltiwanger · · 1m 50s
Yemen Aid Crisis Deepens
Yemen's humanitarian crisis worsens as Houthi-Saudi war disrupts aid delivery.
In brief
Yemen's humanitarian crisis worsens as Houthi-Saudi war disrupts aid delivery. Yemen's renewed civil war between Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed forces has created severe food insecurity, displacing over 145,000 people and risking acute hunger for 2.2 million children. Originally reported by Foreign Policy.
Yemen's humanitarian situation
Yemen's humanitarian situation was already grim before the country fell back into full-blown civil war this month.
WFP director warns
Carl Skau, the acting executive director of the World Food Program (WFP), told Foreign Policy last week that the situation in Yemen was a 'huge concern'.
“huge concern”
Houthis detain WFP staff
The Houthis have detained 38 of our WFP colleagues in Sanaa, he added, and occupied its offices in the port city of Mokha.
Civil war escalation
A devastating civil war broke out in Yemen in 2014, but a 2022 truce had largely brought a halt to the fighting.
Recent fighting
In early September, the Houthis launched a blistering offensive and made major territorial gains along Yemen’s Red Sea coastline.
Displacement numbers
More than 145,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since June, according to the International Organization for Migration.
Health risks
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned displaced families face rising risks of cholera, measles, malaria and dengue.
Death toll
There have been more than 800 deaths in Yemen since early August amid the renewed fighting.
Food insecurity
More than 18 million people in the country face acute food insecurity, and 2.2 million children under age 5 face acute malnutrition.
Funding crisis
Only 20 percent of the humanitarian response needs are funded in Yemen, McKenna said.
WFP ration cuts
WFP has had to cut rations, and mothers are leaving children behind in search of day labor.
Hunger driving conflict
Young men are considering joining the armed struggle to make a little bit of money.
The big picture
Yemen's renewed civil war between Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed forces has created severe food insecurity, displacing over 145,000 people and risking acute hunger for 2.2 million children.
