FAO: Food security outlook in Yemen in Q1 of this year 'worrying'

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) confirmed that the food security outlook in Yemen during the first quarter of this year is "worrying."

The food security outlook through March 2025 is worrying in both government- and Houthi-controlled areas, with households likely to continue to face wider food consumption gaps, it added in its Market and Trade Analytics Bulletin issued on January 16.

It indicated that areas under the control of the Yemeni government are expected to witness further price increases from their already high levels, significantly exceeding the 2024 levels and the three-year average.

In contrast, the UN organization expects that food prices will remain mostly stable in areas controlled by the Houthis, but it is expected that the purchasing power of families will remain very weak, leading to the depletion of family stocks.

Alphao pointed out that there will be an increasing reliance on markets, due to low income levels, which limits access to food and exacerbates food insecurity in many areas.

On Wednesday, the United Nations launched an appeal to provide $2.47 billion to support the humanitarian response plan in Yemen during the year 2025. According to UN estimates, 19.5 million people in Yemen need assistance, including about half of the population who will face severe food insecurity.