The UN said Wednesday, December 22 "forced" to reduce food aid in Yemen for lack of necessary funds. A "desperate measure" at a time when hunger increases in this country at war, ...

In Yemen, food aid cut comes at 'worst time', UN says

The UN estimates that 2.3 million Yemeni children under the age of 5 could suffer from malnutrition.

Here in Sana'a, February 13, 2021. REUTERS - KHALED ABDULLAH

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

The UN said Wednesday, December 22 "

forced

" to reduce food aid in Yemen for lack of necessary funds.

A "

desperate measure

" at a time when hunger increases in this country at war, ravaged by one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

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In Yemen, the World Food Program, WFP, is sounding the alarm.

For lack of funds, this UN agency will have to reduce its food assistance.

Eight million Yemenis are affected, and these cuts in food aid come at the worst time.

The situation is very precarious, hunger is increasing day by day in the country.

Some 80% of Yemen's more than 30 million people depend on international aid.

The poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen is devastated by a seven-year conflict between Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, and government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia.

“

Today, because we simply do not have enough funds, we are forced to reduce food assistance to the population

, deplores Annabel Symington, WFP spokesperson for Yemen at the microphone of

Nicolas Feldmann

Eight million people will now receive only half of the minimum daily food rations. We must do this to continue to support the rest of the population: the five million most fragile people at risk of falling into a situation of famine. So here we are: reducing aid from hungry people to meet the needs of the hungry. It is tragic to come to this

. "

WFP fears "

even more severe cuts soon inevitable

" for lack of funding.

People could then be completely excluded from food aid programs

," he said in a statement.

The UN agency estimated that more than half of Yemen's population faces acute hunger and half

of children

under five (2.3 million) are at risk of malnutrition.

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WFP said it needed $ 813 million (around € 721 million) "

to continue helping the most vulnerable in Yemen until May

And in 2022, 1.97 billion dollars (1.74 billion euros) will be needed "

to continue to provide vital food aid to families on the brink of famine

In March, the UN, Sweden and Switzerland organized a donors' conference with the participation of about 100 countries, raising barely half of the expected funds for humanitarian aid in Yemen.

The UN's goal was to raise $ 3.85 billion (€ 3.4 billion) but only 1.7 billion (€ 1.5 billion) were pledged by governments and particular donors .

►

To listen: Thomas Juneau: in Yemen, "the conflict shows no sign of appeasement"

Corinne Fleischer, WFP regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement that “

WFP food stocks in Yemen are dangerously low.
We desperately need donors, who have been so generous in the past, to work with us to avert this looming food disaster.

WFP's warning comes the day after the announcement of

the closure of the airport in Sana'a

, the capital in rebel hands, including humanitarian flights, the only ones allowed until then.

The shutdown was prompted by airstrikes from

Saudi Arabia

, which said it was responding to drone attacks instigated from the airport.

Since the capture of Sana'a in 2014, the Houthis have captured most of northern Yemen, despite the intervention a year later by a Saudi-led military coalition in support of loyalist forces.

According to the UN, this war will have caused the death of 377,000 people by the end of the year 2021, including around 227,000 deaths due to the indirect consequences of the conflict, in particular hunger, disease and lack of food. potable water.

In Yemen, food aid cut comes at 'worst time', UN says

In Yemen, food aid cut comes at 'worst time', UN says

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