UN program: 64% of Yemeni families are unable to meet their food needs

A UN report issued by the World Food Programme confirmed that the food security crisis in Yemen continues to worsen, with 64% of families unable to meet their food needs by the end of last year.

The programme said in a report issued on Monday, "The food insecurity situation in Yemen remains at alarming levels, with 64% of households surveyed unable to meet their minimum food needs in December 2024."

The report added that the crisis was relatively greater in government-controlled areas compared to Houthi-controlled areas, as (67%) of families who faced a problem in being able to meet their food needs were recorded in government-controlled areas, while (63%) were recorded in Houthi-controlled areas.

The World Food Program explained that the deterioration of food security is mainly linked to "high food prices in government-controlled areas and the lack of humanitarian food aid in Houthi-controlled areas, in addition to the scarcity of income-generating activities and economic turmoil throughout the country."

The report pointed out that the continuation of the internal conflict during the last quarter of last year "contributed to a further deterioration in the food security situation, especially in the directorates located on the front line in the governorates of Taiz, Al Dhale'e and Abyan."

The UN programme confirmed that levels of severe food deprivation (poor food consumption) reached 38% by the end of the year (40% in areas controlled by the internationally recognised government and 37% in areas controlled by the Houthis). All governorates exceeded the “very high” threshold of more than or equal to 20% for poor food consumption in December, except for Sana’a governorate.

The report indicated that the displaced were the most affected by the crisis, as 70 percent of displaced families faced difficulty in accessing their minimum food needs, and severe food deprivation among them increased to 42 percent by the end of 2024.