FAO Warns Food Security in Yemen Remains Critical, Over 18 million Face Acute Hunger

FAO Warns Food Security in Yemen Remains Critical, Over 18 million Face Acute Hunger
—————————-
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned that food security in Yemen remains extremely critical across the country, particularly in northern regions.

In its latest Market and Trade Analytical Bulletin released Monday, the FAO reported that according to the most recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, more than 18 million people—roughly half of Yemen’s population—are expected to experience acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or higher). The organization noted that this number could persist or increase under growing pressures.

The FAO highlighted that areas under government control have seen temporary improvements due to recent measures by the Yemeni Central Bank, which have supported the Yemeni rial and eased food prices. However, these gains remain fragile and subject to reversal.

Conditions in northern regions are of particular concern, with communities facing low rainfall, frost events, local conflicts, reduced imports, declining wages, and rapidly eroding purchasing power. Agricultural production forecasts range from average to below average, and humanitarian food assistance and broader sectoral support remain largely unavailable.

The organization emphasized that food insecurity is further exacerbated by regional instability, rising global food prices, declining household incomes, and local restrictions on food access, limiting millions of Yemeni families’ ability to meet basic needs.