Today's Edition
AHMED MURAD (CAIRO)
Experts warn that a staggering 6 million Yemeni children are teetering on the brink of famine and poverty. The Houthi group’s relentless policies have inflicted collective punishment on approximately 5.4 million Yemenis, exacerbating severe living crises over the past nine years. Food insecurity looms large as a primary concern, with one-third of the population at risk of famine, according to the United Nations World Food Programme.
Amid these dire circumstances, 22 international humanitarian organisations operating in Yemen have sounded the alarm, predicting potential social unrest as the distribution of UN aid remains suspended. This suspension stems from the Houthi group’s intransigence, affecting millions of Yemenis grappling with food insecurity in areas under Houthi control.
Yemeni political analyst Aydhah bin La’sam noted that the Houthi group deliberately exacerbates the food security crisis by refusing to cooperate with international and UN agencies unless they adhere to its prohibitive terms. The group implements a policy of collective punishment against millions of Yemenis, further fragmenting provinces.
UN reports from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs underscored the peril of continuing obstacles and restrictions imposed by the Houthi group on humanitarian aid delivery. These restrictions deny access to approximately 5.4 million Yemenis and pose the most significant challenge to humanitarian efforts in Yemen.
In a statement to Aletihad, the Yemeni political analyst highlighted the plight of hundreds of families living in severe crises and suffering, unable to secure basic sustenance.
The World Food Programme recently announced the suspension of food aid in Houthi-controlled areas after failed negotiations with the group, which aimed to reduce food aid to 3 million people. These negotiations lasted nearly a year and were driven by funding shortages for the humanitarian response plan, prompting a re-evaluation of aid distribution with a focus on the most vulnerable segments of the population.
Yemeni political analyst Mahmoud Al-Tahir emphasised that the Houthi group’s tactics prioritise its interests, even if it means sacrificing the lives of millions of Yemenis who find themselves trapped in the grip of hunger and poverty. Al-Tahir asserted that the Houthi group deliberately withholds essential food items, contributing to the spectre of food insecurity haunting a third of Yemenis - an alarming humanitarian crisis on a global scale.
Regrettably, the crisis is expected to worsen in the coming period due to the Houthis’ escalation and rejection of peace opportunities. The World Food Programme anticipates a critical increase in food insecurity levels in Yemen. In August, inadequate food consumption among families increased by an average of two percentage points, reaching 51.5%, up from 49.5% the previous month, painting a grim picture of the situation in the country.
