MADRID, March 18 (IPS) – The already severe hunger crisis in Yemen is on the verge of total disaster, with 17.4 million people now in need of food assistance and a growing share of the population. The population is dealing with acute levels of hunger, three United Nations agencies warned on March 14, 2022.
“The humanitarian situation in this country is likely to get even worse between June and December 2022, with people potentially unable to meet their minimum food needs in Yemen. could have reached a record 19 million people during that period.”
This is a strong alarm raised by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)the World food program (WFP) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), after releasing a NewIntegrated stage classification (IPC) analysis of Yemen.
At the same time, an additional 1.6 million people in the country are expected to fall into an emergency shortage, bringing the total to 7.3 million by the end of the year, the agencies added.
The IPC report also shows persistent acute malnutrition in children under 5 years of age. Across Yemen, 2.2 million children are acutely malnourished, including nearly half a million children facing severe acute malnutrition, a life-threatening condition. In addition, about 1.3 million pregnant or nursing mothers are severely malnourished.
The situation is getting worse
“The new IPC analysis confirms the worsening food security situation in Yemen. The resounding lesson learned is that we need to act now. We need to sustain an integrated humanitarian response for millions of people, including food and nutrition support, clean water, basic health care, protection and other essential needs,” said Coordinator residency and humanitarian for Yemen, said David Gressly.
“Peace is needed to end the decline, but we can make progress now. Parties to the conflict should lift all restrictions on trade and investment in non-sanctioned items. This will help bring down food prices and open up the economy, giving people the dignity of a job and a way out of dependence on aid,” he added.
War, the main driving force
Conflict remains the main cause of hunger in Yemen. The economic crisis – a byproduct of conflict – and the devaluation of the currency have pushed food prices in 2021 to their highest levels since 2015, UN agencies warn.
The Ukraine war has the potential to lead to significant import shocks, driving up food prices further. Yemen is almost entirely dependent on food imports, with 30% of its wheat imports coming from Ukraine.
“Many households in Yemen suffer from food shortages due to the overlap of drivers,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.
“FAO is working directly with local farmers to promote their self-reliance through a combination of emergency assistance and long-term livelihood support, to build their resilience, supporting local agricultural production and offsetting people’s dependence on imports.”
Hunger increased fivefold
A hugely disturbing new data point is that the number of people experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger – IPC Phase 5, starvation – is expected to increase fivefold, from the current 31,000 to 161,000 – in the second half of 2022.
“These staggering numbers confirm that we are counting down to disaster in Yemen and that we are running out of time to avoid it,” said WFP Executive Director David Beasley. “Unless we get substantial new funding immediately, mass famine and famine will follow. But if we act now, there is still a chance to avert the impending disaster and save millions of lives.”
WFP was forced to reduce rations for eight million people at the beginning of the year due to lack of funding. With these cuts, households receive just under half of the minimum daily food basket according to the WFP standard. The five million people at risk of starvation continue to receive adequate food rations.
Severe acute malnutrition in children and mothers
Meanwhile, acute malnutrition among young children and mothers in Yemen is on the rise. Among the administrations hardest hit are Hajjah, Hodeida and Taizz. “Children with severe acute malnutrition are at risk of death if they do not receive supportive feeding therapy.”
The world’s worst food crisis
“More and more hungry children are going to bed in Yemen,” said Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF. “This puts them at risk for physical and cognitive impairment, and even death. The plight of children in Yemen can no longer be disregarded. Lives are at stake. “
Yemen has faced one of the world’s worst food crises. Parents are often unable to bring their children to a treatment facility because they cannot afford their own travel or expenses while their child is being supported.
The ongoing war against Yemen was launched 7 years ago by the Saudi/United Arab Emirates coalition, heavily armed by the US and Europe with arms deals. gas amount to about 100 billion US dollars.
Other Cruel Wars
In addition to the dire consequences of Western sanctions on Venezuela, with 95% of Venezuelans living in extreme poverty, hundreds of people are forced to walk to neighboring Colombia to find work, according to the report. reported on March 12, 2022. Catherine Ellis above openDemocracy.
But there are other brutal wars. Just two examples:
Syria. Syria’s 11 years of brutal fighting have come at an “unacceptable human cost”, causing millions of people there to violate human rights on “a massive and systematic scale”, United Nations chief said March 11, 2022]marks another tragic anniversary.
South Sudan Prepares for ‘Worst Hunger Crisis Ever’: More than 70 percent of South Sudan’s population will struggle to survive the peak of the annual ‘lean season’ this year, as the country grapples with unprecedented levels of food insecurity due to conflict conflicts, climate shocks, COVID-19 and rising costs, United Nations World Food Program (WFP) Warning on March 11, 2022.
Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya are among the countries that have suffered the sharpest civilian impacts of the US-led war coalitions.
Shouldn’t ALL wars be condemned?
© Inter Press Service (2022) – All rights reservedOrigin: Inter Press Service
