The humanitarian emergency
The humanitarian situation in Yemen continues to worsen. With fuel and food prices at double or even triple the pre-conflict averages and the depreciation of the Yemeni rial, the threat of hunger for millions is a reality.
By June 2021, half the Yemeni population – 16.2 million people – will be facing crisis levels of food insecurity and above (IPC3+). Some 50,000 Yemenis are already facing famine-like conditions (IPC-5).
Against this backdrop, the spread of COVID-19 is rapidly on the rise, with some of the highest number of cases reported since the pandemic began.
While the UN and humanitarian partners are providing food assistance to 9 million Yemenis a month alongside water, sanitation and hygiene, health, nutrition and other aid, the operation needs immediate support to fill the funding gap.
To date, the 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan has only received 12 per cent (US$442.3 million) of the $3.85 billion needed to fund the aid operation. The UN calls on all donors to immediately disburse their pledges and scale up their funding.