Famine is looming in four districts of Yemen as hunger surges among children, with all 117 districts in government-controlled areas expected to face serious acute malnutrition. The United Nations has projected that these four districts could enter famine between July and October 2024, exacerbating an already dire situation that has persisted since the civil war began in 2014 with Houthi control of Sanaa. Over 150,000 deaths have been reported since the conflict started, and currently, 18.2 million people are in need of humanitarian aid in 2024. This represents a 34% increase in acutely malnourished children compared to last year, with over 18,500 children under five projected to be severely malnourished by the end of the year. Additionally, 223,000 pregnant and lactating women are expected to be malnourished [35f4f0be].
UNICEF representative Peter Hawkins has emphasized the urgent need for investment in both prevention and treatment of malnutrition, which has been attributed to outbreaks of cholera and measles, food insecurity, and inadequate humanitarian aid. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a partnership of 15 UN agencies and humanitarian organizations, defines famine as a situation where one in five people face starvation. WFP director Pierre Honnorat has called for increased support to address the escalating crisis. However, a crackdown on aid operations by Houthi forces has further complicated the delivery of humanitarian assistance [35f4f0be].
As the situation in Yemen deteriorates, the international community faces mounting pressure to respond effectively to the growing humanitarian needs. The combination of conflict, disease, and food insecurity presents a multifaceted challenge that requires coordinated efforts to avert a full-scale famine and alleviate the suffering of millions [35f4f0be].