“The United Nations and its partners made progress in ending the worst of food insecurity Seventeen million people are still food insecure in Yemen,” said David Gresley, the country’s UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator.
The latest findings in a new report by three United Nations agencies that are closely monitoring the situation show that there will be higher levels of acute malnutrition in 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, and extreme It shows that more money is needed to stop hunger. After eight years of brutal war.
factors that cause hunger
Remain in Yemen One of the most food insecure countries in the worldA report by the United Nations Food Organization, FAO, the World Food Program (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said the main causes were the effects of conflict and economic decline.
The Integrated Stage Classification (IPC) analysis provides an outlook for the period from now to the end of the year and points to the need to invest in further programs as modest improvements could be eroded, officials said. rice field.
According to their report, Yemeni people continue to need attention, millions of people are facing hunger. Officials have warned that the situation could get worse if nothing is done to address the main drivers of food insecurity.
About 3.2 million people experienced high levels of severe food insecurity in government-controlled areas between January and May 2023, according to a new report, compared to October-December 2022. This represents a decrease of 23% compared to the period.
The report estimates that the number of people likely to experience high levels of severe food insecurity could rise to 3.9 million between June and December 2023. 2.8 million people is predicted to reach crisis level hunger.
life-saving interventions
Hussein Gadain, FAO Representative to Yemen, said that FAO, through various interventions, Improving household food security Aim to raise incomes by strengthening agricultural production practices, increasing work opportunities and diversifying livelihoods in a sustainable way that promotes peaceful coexistence.
Behind these IPC stats are women, men and children whose lives straddle a fine line between hope and utter devastation. – Richard Reagan, United Nations WFP Country Director
we are Work directly with farmers on the ground so that they can sustain their livelihood,” he said. “We will enable Yemeni smallholder farmers to withstand any shocks affecting food security.”
UNICEF and partners 420,000 children suffer from severe acute malnutrition The agency’s representative in Yemen, Peter Hawkins, said life-saving interventions would take place in 2022.
“Thanks to the expansion of nutrition services, this has reached a record high in Yemen’s history,” he said, nevertheless adding: Malnutrition levels remain critical in many areas of the southern provinces.
“A multidisciplinary approach to addressing all forms of malnutrition is essential, and UNICEF is working with partners to strengthen primary care delivery, including early detection and treatment of severe acute malnutrition,” he said. said.
avoiding hunger
The UN Food Agency’s support is critical to putting people on a stronger footing. avoid crisis and hungersaid Richard Reagan, WFP Country Director. Yemen’s food insecurity situation remained fragile and without continued and urgent assistance, hard-won gains over the past 12 months would be lost, he said.
“Women, men and children are behind these IPC statsTheir lives straddle a fine line between hope and utter devastation,” he said, urging donors to renew their resolve to help the most vulnerable Yemenis. “we can’t take the accelerator off now”
Find out more about what the United Nations is doing to help the Yemeni people here.