World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

Yemen is facing large-scale displacement, civil conflict, political instability, food insecurity, high food prices, endemic poverty, a breakdown of social services, diminishing resources and influxes of refugee and migrants. In 2013, WFP is aiming to provide almost 5 million people in 16 governorates with food assistance and is working to build communities’ resilience. In 2012, WFP conducted a Comprehensive Food Security Survey, which found that more than 10 million people—almost half the country’s population—either hungry or on the edge of hunger. Five million of those, 22 percent of the population, were found to be severely food insecure; unable to produce or buy the food they need.

The same survey found child malnutrition rates are among the highest in the world with close to half of Yemen’s children under 5 years, that is two million children, stunted and one million acutely malnourished. 

The 2012 survey results uncovered an alarming decline in Yemen’s food security situation and nutritional status since the previous survey. Food security is defined as a situation in which all people, at all times, have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious for a healthy life. In response, WFP scaled up its assistance in 2013 to ensure that the most food-insecure populations are receiving the assistance they need.