Yemen beekeepers
The recent escalation of Houthis Red Sea attacks, including sinking ships with fertilizer, is set to have detrimental effects on shipping costs and delivery of essential food in Yemen. A new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warns that the already fragile food security situation in Yemen could worsen significantly due to these attacks, potentially leading to starvation among the Yemeni population.
The report, titled Potential Impacts of Red Sea Crisis Escalation on Food Insecurity in Yemen, highlights that almost 5 million people in Yemen are already in Crisis or worse in terms of food security. With Yemen heavily reliant on imports for staple food items, any disruption in shipping due to the Red Sea crisis could further exacerbate food scarcity and increase prices in domestic markets.
The FAO Representative in Yemen, Hussein Gadain, emphasized the urgent need for international intervention to prevent a worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. He stressed the importance of maintaining the flow of essential food supplies to the country amidst the escalating Red Sea conflict.
The report also warns of potential disruptions to livelihoods and food supply chains in Yemen, including the impact on fishermen and the destruction of critical infrastructure such as ports and storage facilities. These factors could further contribute to food insecurity in the country.
Yemenis are often overrun by locusts which attack their food supply.
The FAO’s report underscores the urgency of the situation in Yemen, with the country facing a critical food security crisis exacerbated by ongoing conflicts and disruptions. Action is needed to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Yemen.
