Famine is on the horizon in four Yemeni districts where hunger is rapidly increasing among children residing in regions under the control of the internationally recognized government, as per a report by international experts. The report highlights that all 117 districts in government-held areas are expected to face “serious” levels of acute malnutrition. Specifically, four districts – Mawza and Mocha in Taiz province, and Hays and Khawkhah in Hodeida province – are at risk of slipping into famine between July and October this year, based on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

The report sheds light on the escalating food insecurity in Yemen, the poorest Arab nation, which descended into civil war in 2014. The conflict began when Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and sizable parts of the country’s north, prompting the government to flee first to the south and later to Saudi Arabia. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in March 2015, initially supported by the U.S., aiming to reinstate the internationally recognized government. Over 150,000 individuals, comprising civilians and fighters, have lost their lives in the war, which has largely stagnated in recent years, resulting in one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally.

According to the United Nations, approximately half of Yemen’s population, equating to 18.2 million individuals, require humanitarian assistance this year. The report notes a 34% rise in acutely malnourished children compared to the previous year, with over 18,500 children under 5 forecasted to be severely malnourished by year-end. Moreover, an estimated 223,000 pregnant and lactating women are anticipated to face malnutrition in 2024.

Attributing the substantial increase in malnutrition to the compounding impact of cholera and measles outbreaks, heightened food insecurity, restricted access to clean drinking water, economic downturn, and insufficient humanitarian aid – all consequences of the decade-long conflict. The IPC, a collaborative effort of 15 U.N. agencies and humanitarian organizations working in Yemen and supported by the European Union, the U.S., and the U.K., provided the report.

Famine is officially declared in an area when one in five people or households experiences severe food shortages, leading to starvation and destitution resulting in critical levels of acute malnutrition and fatalities. Pierre Honnorat, the World Food Program director in Yemen, emphasized the urgency of bolstering support for the most vulnerable populations to prevent further descent into food insecurity and malnutrition due to current inadequate levels of humanitarian funding.

However, the report did not cover hunger conditions in Houthi-controlled areas due to restricted access. In recent months, the rebels have cracked down on United Nations agencies and aid organizations, detaining several staff members. Addressing the U.N. Security Council, Lisa Doughten, a senior U.N. humanitarian official, highlighted that the Houthi actions have adversely affected aid operations in their jurisdiction. This situation adds further strain when humanitarians are already struggling to meet the needs of millions of people throughout the country.