UN Warns of Sharp Deterioration in Food Security in Houthi-Controlled Areas of Yemen
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has warned of the continuing food crisis in Yemen, with risks escalating particularly in areas under the control of the Houthi group.
In a recent report on short-term food security outlooks, the organization stated that “the food security outlook in Yemen remains extremely bleak,” with serious challenges persisting through the current month of February.
The report explained that risks are exacerbated by several factors, including regional instability, rising global food prices, and declining household incomes, in addition to local restrictions that limit the ability of families to purchase basic foodstuffs.
The report noted that the situation in Houthi-controlled areas appears the most fragile, as communities face the impacts of low rainfall, frost, and local conflicts, as well as a decline in imports, lower wages, and reduced purchasing power.
The FAO cited the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, which expects more than 18 million people—nearly half of Yemen’s population—to continue suffering from acute food security during February, with the potential for this number to increase if economic and social pressures persist.
