Millions of Yemeni families are expected to face significant food consumption gaps well into 2025 due to the ongoing state of conflict and economic instability.
The situation has been exacerbated by a weakened purchasing power and the continued suspension of humanitarian food aid from the World Food Programme (WFP) in areas controlled by the Houthi forces in northern Yemen.
The Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) has warned that millions of impoverished households will continue to face severe food shortages, with a particular concern for displaced populations.
According to their food security outlook, Yemen will remain in crisis levels (Phase 3 of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) or worse across the country until January 2025.
Some governorates under Houthi control are projected to endure emergency-level food insecurity (Phase 4), which borders on famine conditions, due to the suspension of aid and the devastating impacts of recent flooding.
A rapid assessment conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in August revealed that approximately 99,000 hectares of agricultural land were affected by floods.
The majority of this damaged land was concentrated in the governorates of Al-Hudaydah (77,362 hectares) and Hajjah (20,717 hectares).
As a result of these agricultural losses, which are critical to both food production and income, many of the most vulnerable households are suffering.
Livestock losses and damage to livelihoods have severely affected the ability of flood-impacted families, particularly those relying on pastoral and agro-pastoral activities, to meet even their most basic food needs in the absence of humanitarian assistance.
The deteriorating food security situation in Yemen underscores the urgent need for international aid and sustainable solutions, as millions of people remain at risk of starvation amid the protracted conflict.
