The World Food Programme (WFP) says hunger in Yemen is accelerating, with a record number of people unable to meet their food needs as conflict intensifies. WFP reports that in government-controlled areas where it has access, three out of four households are skipping meals, and the number of people affected is at a record level.
WFP estimates the population in government-held areas at around 10 million people. Matthew Hollingworth, the WFP’s assistant executive director for programme operations, says the impact of the latest increase in insecurity on food security is potentially devastating, speaking to reporters in Geneva via video link from Rome.
Several outlets link the worsening situation to a recent escalation in fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi group. One report describes it as the most serious escalation since a UN-brokered truce largely halted cross-border attacks in 2022, providing context for how renewed hostilities are affecting access to food and basic needs.
