240 000 PEOPLE IN EXTREME LACK OF FOOD

Today, a report of the Integrated Phase Classification (IPC)1, announced a “catastrophic situation” in several parts of Yemen, with 240,000 people living in famine-like conditions. Referring to its assessment results, the IPC report highlights the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions brought by a four-year deadly conflict.

Action against Hunger reiterates its urgent call for the immediate cessation of hostilities in Yemen and demands that humanitarian space be safeguarded for all humanitarian actors.

“More than 20 million people in Yemen are in need of humanitarian assistance. Without a political solution, more aid will only prolong the agony of the Yemeni people. If peace is not brought about soon the blood of tens of thousands more Yemenis will be on the hands of the warring parties, as well as those who allow them to wage war with such impunity.” said Jonathan Cunliffe, ACF Regional Operations Director.

A great number of Yemenis are marginally able to meet minimum food needs, which correspond to IPC Acute Food Insecurity Phase 3 (Crisis) and 4 (Emergency); the latter relates to increased acute malnutrition and an increased risk of excess mortality. The IPC report finds a 42% increase in the emergency phase as compared to 2017, which today results in 9.8 million people in severe food insecurity. Almost a quarter of a million people are classified as in Phase 5, a “catastrophic situation” or near famine conditions: an extreme lack of food leading to starvation and death.

Together with other humanitarian organizations working in Yemen, Action Against Hunger will continue to push for unhindered access for all, and strives to scale up operations to reach the most vulnerable people. Meanwhile, more efforts are required to strengthen economic support, including more resources injected into the economy, so that everyone can afford to buy the essentials to survive.

1 Widely accepted by the international community, the IPC describes the severity of food emergencies. Based on common standards and language, this five-phase scale is intended to help governments and other humanitarian actors quickly understand a crisis and take action