Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Tuesday that Yemen’s western coastal areas are on the verge of catastrophe due to severe malnutrition.
According to Reuters, Peter Hawkins from UNICEF told reporters in Geneva via video link from Sana’a: “We have seen figures indicating that 33% of Yemen’s population suffers from acute and severe malnutrition, particularly along the western coast. In Hudaydah, the situation is on the brink of disaster… thousands will die.”
Cuts in aid from the US and other donors, along with severe food distribution shortages in 2024, have worsened the situation in some areas.
One in every two children under the age of five in Yemen suffers from malnutrition, along with 1.4 million pregnant and breastfeeding women, according to UNICEF.
Hawkins added: “This disaster is not natural but man-made. More than a decade of conflict has devastated Yemen’s economy, healthcare, and infrastructure. Over half of the population relies on humanitarian aid.”
Earlier this month, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) warned of worsening malnutrition in Yemen, stating that needs exceed current treatment capacity. The organization called for increased support following a decline in humanitarian funding for the country.
UNICEF has launched an appeal for an additional $157 million for 2025, stating that its current funding appeal is only 25% financed.
Since taking office on January 20, U.S. President Donald Trump has suspended U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) programs for 90 days while his administration reviews whether these programs align with its “America First” policy.
Source: Reuters
