A stark warning has emerged from the World Food Programme (WFP) as it revealed that 70% of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Yemen are currently unable to access the minimum food required for survival. The latest Yemen Food Security Update, published on Tuesday, lays bare the extent of the food crisis affecting millions, as conflict, economic instability and a significant shortfall in humanitarian assistance combine to worsen the plight of the most vulnerable.
According to the report, IDPs have been particularly hard-hit by food insecurity in the country. It states that 70% of IDP households are struggling to meet their basic nutritional needs, while severe food deprivation has surged to 42% by the end of 2024. These figures underline the desperate circumstances faced by those displaced by the protracted conflict in Yemen, with many left with few or no reliable sources of sustenance.
The report further distinguishes between IDPs residing in camps and those living within host communities. In camps, 49% of households are suffering from poor food consumption compared to 39% among those residing in host communities. On a national scale, 64% of the surveyed households were found to be unable to obtain the minimum food basket as of December 2024. Moreover, disparities exist between regions under different authorities; households in areas controlled by the legitimate government reported a higher rate of inadequate food consumption at 67%, while those in Houthi-controlled areas recorded 63%.
Key factors contributing to the worsening food crisis have been identified by the WFP. Macroeconomic upheavals, significant gaps in humanitarian assistance – particularly following a pause in food aid across numerous districts in Houthi-held areas – and the scarcity of viable livelihood opportunities have all played a role. Additionally, localized conflicts over the final three months of 2024, notably in frontline districts such as Taiz, Dhale and Abyan, have further compounded the situation, leaving many communities even more exposed to hunger and deprivation.
Severe levels of food deprivation reached 38% nationwide by the end of the year, with figures slightly higher in government-controlled areas (40%) compared to 37% in Houthi-controlled territories. The situation is so dire that nearly every Yemeni governorate has surpassed the “very high” threshold of more than 20% for poor food consumption, with the sole exception being the Houthi-held Sanaa governorate. To manage the mounting food shortages in December, 52% of households in Houthi-controlled areas and 44% in government-controlled zones adopted severe food-based coping strategies, reflecting the desperate measures families are forced to take.
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Across the country, common practices reported include reducing meal sizes – a coping mechanism employed by 72% of households – and resorting to less preferred, often less nutritious, food alternatives, a strategy noted in 66% of cases. More extreme measures have also been observed, with some households forced into begging and even selling off their homes as a last resort to secure food.
In response to these alarming developments, the WFP has scaled up its Targeted Emergency Food Assistance (TEFA) programme in Houthi-controlled areas. The programme has doubled its reach from 1.4 million to 2.8 million people across 70 districts as part of the second TEFA cycle, which commenced in mid-January 2025. This rapid expansion has already yielded improvements, with regular food assistance in these areas contributing to a notable, albeit fragile, improvement in household food consumption and coping strategies, as observed in September and November 2024.
Meanwhile, the economic situation in government-controlled regions remains precarious. The Yemeni rial depreciated by 26% during 2024, losing 71% of its value against the US dollar over the past five years. This significant depreciation has driven fuel prices to unprecedented levels and caused the cost of the minimum food basket to increase by 21% between January and December 2024, further intensifying the hardships faced by Yemeni households.
The WFP’s report calls urgently for enhanced international humanitarian support and concerted efforts to stabilise the economy and rebuild livelihoods, as Yemen’s food crisis continues to threaten the lives and dignity of millions.
