Hunger is looming over Yemen, urgent action is needed

"More than half the population, 18 million people, is projected to face worsening levels of food insecurity in early 2026. To grasp the scale of this crisis, imagine the entire population of the Netherlands going hungry. In a survey conducted by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) last year, nearly every respondent identified food as their most urgent need, with almost 80 percent of families reporting severe hunger."

"IPC Phase 3 and above means families are routinely missing meals, relying on debt, and selling off what little they have left jewellery, livestock, tools, even doors and cooking gas cylindersto buy food. It also means children are more likely to become acutely malnourished, and illnesses that would normally be survivable become deadly."

"Even more alarming, pockets of famine affecting more than 40,000 people are expected to emerge across four districts within the next two months, marking Yemen's bleakest food security outlook since 2022. For many families, meals have become a daily ration of bread and water. For others, adults go without food so their children can eat."

Yemen is experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis with over half its population facing critical food insecurity. Eighteen million people are projected to encounter worsening hunger levels in early 2026. Survey data from the International Rescue Committee reveals that nearly 80 percent of families report severe hunger, with food identified as their most urgent need. Current projections indicate one million additional people risk entering life-threatening hunger phases. Families are resorting to extreme measures including selling possessions and going into debt to purchase food. Children face acute malnutrition while treatable illnesses become fatal due to weakened immune systems. Famine conditions affecting over 40,000 people are expected across four districts within two months, representing Yemen's bleakest outlook since 2022.

Read at www.aljazeera.com