Dubai (AFP)

Yemen is once again on the brink of "famine" and the UN does not have the "necessary resources" to prevent the catastrophe in the midst of the global Covid-19 crisis, deplored the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for this ravaged country by war.

Millions of vulnerable families could quickly pass from "the situation where they can still hold on to that where they will be in free fall", estimated Lise Grande in an interview with AFP since Sanaa.

For a country where 24 million people - more than two-thirds of the population - depend on humanitarian aid, the United Nations has raised only about half of the $ 2.41 billion in aid needed at a virtual donors conference in June.

And only nine of the 31 donors actually provided the funds, said Lise Grande.

"It is very clear that the Covid-19 pandemic has put pressure on (humanitarian) aid budgets all over the world (...) they simply will not be able to do what they have done before" , underlined the American diplomat.

The global economic crisis caused by the pandemic will have a "very significant, very serious impact" on humanitarian assistance in Yemen, she insisted.

- "Deeply disturbing" -

Yemen is already plagued by what the United Nations considers to be the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands of dead, an estimated four million people displaced by war, recurrent threats of famine and epidemics, as dengue or cholera.

But, for lack of means, essential programs in the fields of health or food are already closing, while the economic situation looks "frighteningly" in the darkest days of the crisis, according to Lise Grande.

Conflict in Yemen pits government forces, backed by a military coalition led by neighboring Saudi Arabia, against Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, who have captured much of the north, including the capital Sanaa in 2014.

"Boats are not allowed to transport vital products. The currency depreciates very quickly. The Central Bank has no more money. The price of the basic food basket (...) has increased by 30% just "in recent weeks," said the UN official.

"We are seeing the same factors, already seen before, which are driving the country to starvation. We do not have the resources to fight it and make it go back this time", she insisted, judging the situation "deeply disturbing".

- "Incredible situation" -

In the midst of a global health crisis, the United Nations had to face the "incredible situation" of having to stop supplying fuel to hospitals as well as to water supply and sanitation systems throughout the country, regretted the responsible.

Yemen has so far officially registered some 1,300 cases of infections with the new coronavirus. At least 359 people died from the disease. But the assessment could be heavier according to experts, the country does not have the capacity to conduct large-scale tests and hospitals are ill-equipped to determine the causes of death.

The World Food Program, which provided staple foods to 13 million people a month, had to reduce deliveries to just 8.5 to 8.7 million beneficiaries, many of whom had to make do with smaller portions.

In 2018, when Yemen was on the brink, the situation was very different. Saudi Arabia bailed out the Central Bank, the United Arab Emirates - a key partner in the anti-Houthi coalition - paid teachers' salaries, the currency was stabilized and imports of raw materials supported.

"Eighteen months ago, we were one of the best funded humanitarian operations in the world," said Lise Grande, but "the difference is that this time we don't have the resources."

© 2020 AFP