Yemen on the 'brink of famine' as five million people face extreme hunger, UN warns
The UK government has given £14million to avert mass starvation in Yemen as the United Nations warns the country is on the brink of famine.
The UK aid money will help 1.5million households access food and medicines and takes the UK’s contribution to the country to £214million this year.
A new analysis shows that pockets of famine-like conditions have already returned for the first time in two years, and warns that the number of people experiencing this degree of “catastrophic” hunger could nearly triple from 16,500 currently to 47,000 people between January and June 2021.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis – an internationally recognised system to determine hunger levels – also warns that the numbers of people facing the emergency phase of hunger is set to increase from 3.6 million to five million people in the first half of 2021. This puts them “on the precipice” of falling into famine, the analysis warns.
This phase four or emergency level of hunger is a final warning for action before famine hits.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has urged the international community to step up, distribute the money they have pledged and support the peace process to prevent the crisis worsening even further.
Famine was averted in Yemen in 2019 after enough money was raised for UN agencies and NGOs to provide food and support to those most in need.
Last month UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned: “Yemen is now in imminent danger of the worst famine the world has seen for decades. In the absence of immediate action, millions of lives may be lost.”
The food crisis is a result of years of war that have led to an economic collapse and a rise in food prices. The Covid-19 pandemic has compounded the situation as services are stretched to the limit.
David Beasley, executive director of the UN World Food Programme, one of the three UN bodies making the warning, said the numbers were a wake-up call to the world.
“Yemen is on the brink of famine and we must not turn our backs on the millions of families who are now in desperate need. Make no mistake, 2021 will be even worse than 2020 for Yemen’s most vulnerable people. Famine can still be prevented – but that opportunity is slipping away with every day that passes,” he said.
Mr Raab said: “Thousands of Yemenis are now living in famine conditions, facing the daily threat of starvation and conflict.
“New UK aid will save lives by making sure the poorest Yemenis can feed their families. But the UK cannot solve this crisis alone. Other donors must now release their funding and contribute more support to prevent this becoming an even bigger tragedy.”
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