On 28 September 2018, David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) stated that “Yemen is undeniably the world's worst humanitarian crisis by far.” This statement comes one week after UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock announced to the Security Council that the aid operation in Yemen could be overwhelmed due to “economic deterioration.”

According to Lowcock, the Yemeni currency, Rial, has depreciated by approximately 30 percent within the past month. This has caused a spike in food prices, as much of Yemen’s food source is imported, making it difficult for people to afford food to eat. Lowcock also said increased fighting near the city of Hudaydah threatens the aid operation due to the decreased accessibility to the major port. Al Jazeera reports that approximately 70-80 percent of Yemen’s food and medical supplies arrive in Hudaydah’s ports.

The WFP warned of the outbreak of a full-scale famine, according to Al Jazeera. Within a population of 29 million, 18 million are food insecure, with 8.4 million facing severe food insecurity. The UN estimates that the number of people facing severe food insecurity could reach 10 million by the end of 2018 unless action is taken. In his address to the Security Council, Lowcock stated that in some cases “people are eating leaves because they have no other form of sustenance.” Additionally, the UN reported, since April 2017 there have been over 1.1 million cases of cholera or watery diarrhoea in Yemen.

On 1 October 2018, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman pledged a donation of $200 million to the central bank of Yemen in order to help strengthen the Yemeni currency. However, Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates, recently objected to a U.N. Human Rights Council motion to prolong a human rights inquiry in Yemen. Despite their objections, the motion passed on 28 September by 21 votes to eight.

To know more, please read:

https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/09/1020182

https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/09/1020232

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/yemen-undeniably-world-worst-humanitarian-crisis-wfp-180928051150315.html

https://www.reuters.com/article/yemen-security-saudi/update-1-saudi-arabia-makes-200-mln-grant-to-yemen-central-bank-state-media-idUSL8N1WH70S

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-un-rights/saudi-arabia-uae-fail-to-halt-u-n-yemen-human-rights-inquiry-idUSKCN1M81L3

By Cecilia D'Arville
Editing by Sharbya Ghimire