FAO: Food security outlook in Yemen in coming months 'worrying'

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ( FAO ) confirmed today, Sunday, that the food security forecasts in Yemen in the coming months are "worrying."

She added in the Market and Trade Analytical Bulletin last November that food security forecasts through March/April 2025 are worrying in both areas controlled by the Yemeni government and the Houthis alike.

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 access to income will remain limited, leading to the depletion of household stocks.

Alphao pointed out that this situation indicates an increasing dependence on markets, while households' purchasing power is diminishing, which limits access to food and exacerbates food insecurity in many areas.

The United Nations said earlier this month that it needs $2.5 billion to support the humanitarian response plan in Yemen during the coming year 2025, stressing that "the living conditions of most Yemenis will remain dire, and limited livelihood opportunities and declining purchasing power are expected to deepen social and economic instability."

According to UN estimates, 19.54 million people in Yemen need assistance over the coming year, including 17 million people (49 percent of the population) who will face severe food insecurity.