In March, the United Nations reported that more than 17.4 million Yemenis are food insecure. Another 1.6 million are expected to fall into emergency levels of hunger in the coming months. The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that half of all children under five face malnutrition.
Executive Director of the WFP says that “these harrowing figures confirm that we are on a countdown to a catastrophe in Yemen and we are almost out of time to avoid it. Unless we receive substantial new funding immediately, mass starvation and famine will follow. But if we act now, there is still a chance to avert imminent disaster and save millions.” Catherine Russell, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says that “more and more children” are “going to bed hungry” in Yemen. She adds that, “this puts them at increased risk of physical and cognitive impairment, and even death. The plight of children in Yemen can no longer be overlooked. Lives are at stake.” This response to the problem is expected because of the humanitarian nature of the current global community, and international organizations, like the UN and the World Food Programme. Knowing that innocent civilians, particularly children, are starving due to a seven-year-long civil war is outraging and it is expected that people will respond with pleas to assist those that are facing famine.
Yemen’s food crisis is a direct, man-made result of the seven-year-long civil war. This war is between the government formerly led by Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, and the Houthi armed movement. The Houthi are Zaydi Shiites — Shia Muslims are a minority of the Islamic World, and the Zaydis are a minority of the Shiites, and they hold different beliefs and doctrines than other Shiite Muslims. They have captured much of Yemen’s Capital, Sana’a, by late 2014. They state that their goals are to combat economic underdevelopment and political marginalization in Yemen, while gaining greater autonomy for the Houthi-majority regions of Yemen.
Since 2015, the economy has halved, and Yemen is now considered one of the poorest countries in the world, with 80% of Yemenis living below the poverty line. The collapse of incomes and the increase in prices has pushed food beyond the reach of many Yemenis. A recent development in this conflict is that warring parties agreed on a two-month truce, which has the potential to be prolonged.
The response to food insecurity in Yemen is simply not enough. The problem persists because the civil war persists and now food insecurity is further exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Food supplies have been disrupted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since Yemen consumed Ukraine’s wheat. The United Nations predicts that 19 million Yemenis will go hungry in the coming months. 160,000 Yemenis will face famine-like conditions. By the end of 2021, they estimate that this civil war will have caused over 377,000 deaths, with 60% of them being a result of hunger, lack of healthcare, and unsafe water. They also say that more than 10,200 children have been killed or wounded as a direct result of the conflict. If conflict in Yemen continues, and conflict within the larger global community continues, then Yemen will suffer from even greater food insecurity. Efforts have not been unsuccessful, but they just haven’t been enough.
The World Food Program currently provides approximately 13 million people with food assistance through rations, vouchers, and cash transfers. This still leaves millions of Yemenis without food. It is also not a sustainable method of aid as resources will eventually be exhausted. It is a noble effort that deserves praise, but it must be recognized that this is not a lasting solution. The response fails to address the root causes and ongoing tensions between warring parties which significantly contribute to food insecurity.
The most obvious solution to address the issue of food insecurity in Yemen is to continue aid and increase the number of donations while addressing the root causes of the issue. There must be more significant campaigns to let people all over the world know of this crisis as it continues to be overshadowed by other conflicts and news. It helps that Angelina Jolie has publicly posted seeking donations for Yemen, but there need to be more celebrities and governments working together on campaigns to achieve a new level of donations.
It is also essential to address the root causes of Yemen’s food insecurity — conflict and economic hardship. Currently, Yemen must find other suppliers of affordable wheat besides Ukraine to curb the estimated increases in food shortages. Furthermore, there must be supports put in place to help alleviate economic hardships and to improve the economy within Yemen. The problem is that it is hard to focus on the economy within a country when they currently have a raging civil war lasting several years. It is essential for both warring parties to extend the agreed upon truce beyond two months, since it will require compromise between parties. Yemen needs a legitimate and capable state for their economic future. Yemen is rich in resources — liquefied natural gas reserves, minerals, a once prominent deep-water port, and opportunities for tourism. Economic assistance is needed from other states to help Yemen make use of their resources.
Right now, Yemenis are facing severe famine and food shortages. People are starving and need the help of the global community to help alleviate such issues. This world has nations with an abundance of food, while others do not have enough to feed even half of their population. The United Nations has called Yemen one of the worst humanitarian crises of the world.
