Aden (South24)

The World Food Programme (WFP) announced that $1.5 billion is required to meet the humanitarian needs of Yemen for 2025, in light of the worsening food crisis there that threatens the lives of millions.

In a report issued on Friday (November 22), regarding its global expectations for 2025, the World Food Programme said that Yemen is one of the countries most affected by hunger in the world, as 17.1 million people are suffering from severe food insecurity, including 3.3 million children, pregnant and lactating women suffering from severe malnutrition.

The report explained that lack of funding is a major obstacle to the humanitarian operations in Yemen. In 2024, the WFP was able to secure only 38% of the required funding, which has led to a reduction in the volume of food aid and a scaling down of the number of beneficiaries.

It indicated that about 11 million people in Yemen depend directly on the monthly food aid provided by the WFP, which is considered vital for their survival.

The report said that inflation and rising food prices pose additional challenges, as food prices have increased by 140% since the beginning of the conflict, making it more difficult for people to meet their basic needs. 

It stated that 53% of aid beneficiaries are women and children, who are considered the most affected groups. 

The program said that it uses a huge logistics network that includes more than 5,000 trucks, 20 ships, and 132 aircraft daily to transport aid to the affected areas. However, armed conflicts in Yemen hinder access to the areas most in need, delaying humanitarian operations and increasing the suffering. 

The report stated that climate change, including drought and floods, has caused local agricultural production to drop by more than 50% in some areas. The climate crises has exacerbated food insecurity and increased the pressure on available resources. 

The program warned that failure to provide the necessary funding could lead to a catastrophic deterioration in food security conditions, putting millions of Yemenis at risk of famine. The program called on the international community, including governments and the private sector, to provide the necessary support to bridge the funding gap and ensure the continuation of humanitarian operations.

The WFP report concluded by stressing that additional funding could save millions of lives and alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, stressing that the situation requires an urgent and coordinated international response.