Hodeidah (South24)

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The Port of Hodeidah has not received any fuel ships since Israeli airstrikes targeted it on July 20, 2024, a recent report from the World Food Program (WFP) has revealed. All fuel shipments have been redirected to the nearby port of Ras Issa, the report said.

The WFP reported a significant decline in food security across Yemen, with 64% of families experiencing insufficient food consumption in August 2024. The report highlighted that 37% of households in the Northern regions are facing severe food deprivation, while 23% of families in the North and 15% of families in the South reported a family member having gone an entire day without food due to severe shortages.

The report also pointed to the rapid depreciation of the Yemeni riyal exchange rate in government-controlled areas, which has lost 24% of its value since last year, and 68% of its value over the past five years. This has driven up fuel prices significantly - gasoline increased by 20% and diesel by 24% in August 2024.

Similarly, the cost of the basic food basket in areas controlled by the Yemeni government increased by 23% compared to the previous year, reaching record levels in August of this year. This is largely due to the increase in commodities prices, including vegetable oil (37%), sugar (27%), red beans (21%), and wheat flour (20%).

The report also stated that fuel imports through Red Sea ports increased by 11% from January to August 2024 compared to the same period last year, while the Southern ports of Aden and Mukalla saw a 9% decrease during the same timeframe. The rising costs have put additional pressure on Yemeni families, making it increasingly difficult to meet basic needs. 

The reports comes amid renewed Israel airstrikes on the port of Hodeidah yesterday, marking the second round of attacks since July. However, the latest airstrikes also targeted the Salif port and Ras Issa ports—both also under Houthi control.