UN Warns of Widespread Famine in Yemen

The United Nations has warned of widespread famine in Yemen, stating that 60% of the country's war-torn population will face hunger. According to a report by AFP from Geneva, Bettina Luescher, spokesperson for the World Food Program, expressed deep concern on Friday, April 4, stating, "We are extremely worried that Yemen is on the brink of famine." She noted that "out of 22 provinces in the country, seven have reached emergency level four and are just one step away from being declared in famine." Yemen has long been recognized as one of the poorest countries, but conditions have worsened over the past two years due to the escalation of the civil war, which has been accompanied by military intervention from a foreign coalition led by Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, according to the World Food Program spokesperson, the agency is currently active in Yemen, providing food for seven million people monthly, which is less than half of the 17 million people on the brink of famine. Luescher further stated, "Even those who are fortunate enough to receive aid do not get all the necessary nutrients their bodies need." She added that "budget shortages, the ongoing war, and restrictions on movement for aid workers are the biggest obstacles preventing food and other necessary assistance from reaching the people." According to UN statistics, the Yemen war has resulted in 7,400 deaths and around 40,000 injuries since Saudi Arabia began supporting the Yemeni government against Houthi rebels. The statistics also indicate that 4,773 civilians have been killed in the war over the past two years.