The World Food Programme said Wednesday it was "forced" to cut aid to Yemen due to lack of funds and warned of a surge in hunger in the war-torn country.  

"From January, eight million will receive a reduced food ration, while five million at immediate risk of slipping into famine conditions will remain on a full ration," the UN agency said in a statement. 

Yemen has been devastated by a war led by a Saudi coalition, which caused millions of civilians to reach the brink of famine.

The war killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and left around 80% of Yemenis in need of aid.

"Every time we reduce the amount of food, we know that more people who are already hungry and food insecure will join the ranks of the millions who are starving," said WFP Middle East and North Africa director Corinne Fleischer, according to the statement. 

"But desperate times call for desperate measures and we have to stretch our limited resources and prioritize, focusing on people who are in the most critical state."

UN slashes healthcare in Yemen

Earlier, due to a shortage of financing, crucial help has been stopped at 300 health sites across Yemen's war-torn country, and life-saving food distribution has also been restricted.

More than a third of the UN's major humanitarian programs in Yemen were decreased or shut down entirely between April and August, according to the UN, which warned that more extreme cuts would be made "in the coming weeks" unless additional financing was obtained.