Approximately five million individuals, equating to 47% of the population, are currently facing acute food insecurity at crisis or worse levels (Phase 3 and above). An additional 1.4 million are in the “emergency” phase, with expectations of an increase as the year advances. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) highlighted that families are stretched beyond their coping capacities due to economic collapse, climate shocks, disrupted livelihoods, and dwindling humanitarian support.
The lean season from June to September is predicted to escalate the emergency conditions to 1.5 million people. The period following the harvest from October to December 2026 is unlikely to see significant improvement, with those in Emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4) anticipated to reach 1.8 million. Food insecurity is a core driver of Yemen’s high malnutrition rates amid prolonged conflict between Houthi rebels and the internationally recognized Government. Poor dietary diversity, inadequate household food intake, limited access to essential preventive nutrition services, and deteriorating living situations increase acute malnutrition risks, especially among pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children.
Economic decline and aid reductions compound the crisis. Irregular wages, high food and fuel costs, decreased income opportunities, and agricultural production constraints hinder families from securing basic food needs. Around 60% of Yemeni households rely partially on farming, yet harvests suffer due to extreme weather, pest outbreaks, and disrupted supply chains. Simultaneously, humanitarian food assistance, and interventions in nutrition, health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are poised for significant reductions due to critical funding deficiencies, threatening support when it’s most crucial.
In response, the WHO, in collaboration with local partners in Aden and Marib, delivers healthcare directly to displacement camps to tackle rising malaria risks. In the Al-Shaab camp in Aden, displaced families endure overcrowding, poor environmental conditions, and limited service access, elevating malaria and vector-borne disease risks, particularly for women and children. Abeer Abdulwarith Mohammed Saeed, 21, shares her challenges, highlighting the lack of emergency services. Limited resources restrict access to treatment when needed.
Mobile teams are employing a strategy with clinics moving across camps to detect and diagnose early cases, particularly in distant health service areas. For Ms. Saeed’s family, the mobile team’s visit provided reassurance. She expressed relief, stating, “The medical team helped us today with malaria and dengue tests for me and my children. We waited for the results and thank God, there was no malaria. We are healthy.”
Core UN aid agencies urge the international community to urgently increase funding for humanitarian food assistance, nutrition services, health, agriculture, and resilience programming. Without immediate, sustained, and intensified action, millions risk deeper hunger, malnutrition, and irreversible livelihood loss.
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