Famine Crisis Looms in Yemen Amidst Rising Hunger and Malnutrition

A report by international experts warns of an impending famine in four Yemeni districts, with severe malnutrition numbers surging among children. The ongoing conflict, which began in 2014, has greatly exacerbated food insecurity, leaving half of Yemen's population in need of aid. The situation is further complicated by cholera, measles outbreaks, and a constrained humanitarian environment.

Famine is looming in four Yemeni districts as instances of hunger rapidly surge among children in areas controlled by the internationally recognized government, according to a report by international experts. All 117 districts in these areas are expected to suffer from "serious" acute malnutrition, with four districts projected to slip into famine between July and October, based on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

The country has been suffering since Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels took control of the capital, Sanaa, in 2014, prompting civil war and forcing the government to flee. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war in 2015, backed by the U.S. The conflict has resulted in over 150,000 deaths and triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. This year, about 18.2 million Yemenis require humanitarian aid, according to the U.N.

The number of acutely malnourished children increased by 34% compared to last year, with more than 18,500 children under 5 projected to be severely malnourished by year's end. The report also predicts that 223,000 pregnant and lactating women will be malnourished in 2024. UNICEF's Peter Hawkins emphasized the critical need for increased prevention and treatment efforts. The IPC report attributes the spike in malnutrition to the compounded effects of cholera and measles outbreaks, food insecurity, and limited access to safe drinking water due to the prolonged conflict.

(With inputs from agencies.)