Acute Malnutrition Surges in Yemen’s GoY-Controlled Areas Amid Ongoing Conflict

The report highlights a 34% rise in acute malnutrition among children under five, with over 600,000 affected, including 120,000 severely malnourished.

The latest analysis from Yemen’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Technical Working Group reveals a severe increase in acute malnutrition in Government of Yemen (GoY)-controlled areas, with the West Coast experiencing "extremely critical" levels for the first time. The report highlights a 34% rise in acute malnutrition among children under five, with over 600,000 affected, including 120,000 severely malnourished. This spike is attributed to disease outbreaks such as cholera and measles, high food insecurity, limited access to safe water, and economic decline.

The most alarming levels were recorded in Hodeidah’s southern lowlands and Taizz lowlands, where acute malnutrition rates have surpassed 30%, reaching 33.9% in some districts. The situation is expected to worsen during the lean season from July to October 2024, with 117 districts in GoY-controlled areas projected to face "serious" levels of acute malnutrition or worse.

UNICEF, FAO, WFP, and WHO have raised concerns over the deteriorating conditions and are calling for immediate action to prevent further escalation. The agencies emphasize the need for a multisectoral response, focusing on prevention and treatment efforts to protect the most vulnerable populations, particularly children under five.

UNICEF Representative to Yemen, Peter Hawkins, stressed the critical need for investment in prevention and treatment efforts, while FAO’s Dr. Hussein Gadain highlighted the importance of restoring and diversifying agricultural livelihoods. WFP’s Pierre Honnorat warned of the dire consequences of ongoing humanitarian funding shortages, and WHO’s Dr. Arturo Pesigan called for integrated health and nutrition services to address the crisis.

The ongoing conflict, economic instability, and recurrent disease outbreaks continue to drive Yemen’s malnutrition crisis, exacerbating both acute and chronic malnutrition in the most affected regions. The four UN agencies urge the international community to provide sustained support and address the root causes of the crisis, while also advocating for an end to the nearly decade-long conflict to restore peace and rebuild Yemen’s shattered systems.