• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English
  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. MENA
  4. UN warns of catastrophic hunger in Yemen
MENA

UN warns of catastrophic hunger in Yemen

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 16 Mar 10:57

During a UN pledging conference, officials confirm that a seismic hunger crisis in Yemen is looming if no solutions were adopted.

  • UN pledging conference
    UN pledging conference

Yemen must not become a forgotten crisis behind Ukraine, organizers of Wednesday's UN pledging conference said, warning of catastrophic hunger if donations were not forthcoming.

The United Nations - which considers the war on Yemen as the world's worst humanitarian disaster - warned that the money preventing the situation from getting worse is now running out.

"Basic services are collapsing"

UN humanitarian Chief Martin Griffiths told reporters, "Today we are meeting to plug a huge gap in funding for the life-saving response." 

He pointed out that "the war is in its seventh year and counting. The economy lies in ruins. Basic services are collapsing."

  • The atrocities of the Saudi-led aggression on Yemen
    The atrocities of the Saudi-led aggression on Yemen

Griffiths highlighted that "this year's response needs nearly $4.3 billion to help over 17 million people across Yemen."

"We do not forget them"

As funding had been drying up since late last year, aid agencies were being forced to cut back or stop food and health services, he noted.

"Today we hope to raise the money to replenish the food pipeline, stock up health clinics and provide shelter to the displaced," expressed the UN humanitarian chief. 

He also claimed that the conference was "to send a message to the people in Yemen that we do not forget them."

Impacts of Ukraine situation on Yemen

Griffith warned that the current situation in Ukraine would have far-reaching secondary impacts.

It will "surely harm the lives of many Yemenis," he said, given that the country depends almost entirely on food imports, with nearly a third of its wheat supplies coming from Ukraine.

Out of 31.9 million people in Yemen, 23.4 million were in need of humanitarian assistance, of which 12.9 million were in acute need, underlined the UN.

Catastrophic hunger if Ukraine crisis pushed up food prices

The World Food Programme (WFP) underscored that the levels of hunger could become catastrophic if the Ukraine crisis pushed up food prices.

Wednesday's pledging event is being co-hosted by the UN humanitarian agency, Switzerland, and Sweden.

"As of course Ukraine keeps us very much busy and is a huge concern, it is crucial that no other crisis becomes a forgotten crisis," said Manuel Bessler, Switzerland's humanitarian aid chief.

Take food from the hungry to feed the starving

In a joint statement, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the WFP, and the UNICEF children's agency made clear that the humanitarian situation is poised to worsen between June and December.

"Yemen's already dire hunger crisis is teetering on the edge of outright catastrophe, with 17.4 million people now in need of food assistance and a growing portion of the population coping with emergency levels of hunger," the three UN agencies warned.

WFP said the number of people needing food assistance had increased by 1.2 million over the past year - and is forecast to reach 19 million people in the second half of 2022.

"We are looking at a seismic hunger crisis if we do not step up now," stressed WFP Executive Director David Beasley.

"Funding for Yemen has never reached this point. We have no choice but to take food from the hungry to feed the starving," he added.

  • WFP
  • World Food Programme
  • Martin Griffiths
  • United Nations
  • Yemen
  • Ukraine
  • UNICEF

Trending Now

All
More than 19 million people are going hungry in Yemen: OCHA

More than 19 million people facing hunger in Yemen: OCHA

Most Read

David Hirsh – An asset of the Zionist regime

David Hirsh – An asset of the Zionist regime

  • Feature
  • 16 Aug
China: Will it now Toss Caution to the Wind?

China: Will it now Toss Caution to the Wind?

  • Analysis
  • 15 Aug
A US soldier sits in an armored vehicle in Manbij, northern Syria, in 2018 (AP Photo)

US troops loot 89 oil tankers from Syria, smuggle them into Iraq

  • MENA
  • 14 Aug
Dried-up Tille River in Lux, France (AP)

Climate crisis causes Tille river to become mass grave for fish

  • Europe
  • 12 Aug

Read this

All
UN criticizes 'arbitrary' Israeli move of raiding Palestinian NGOs.
Palestine

UN slams Israeli move of closing Palestinian NGOs as 'arbitrary'

  • Today
Germany's Scholz faces grilling over tax fraud scandal.
Europe

Tax fraud scandal lands Germany's Scholz in hot water

  • Today
North Korea rejects Seoul's aid-for-denuclearization offer.
Asia

North Korea slams Seoul's recycled aid offer as 'foolish'

  • Today
A photo of Lake Mead (AP)
US & Canada

Bodies surfacing as water recedes at gangsters 'paradise', Lake Mead

  • Today
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS