Yemen
Even before fighting broke out in early 2015, Yemen was one of the poorest countries in the Arab world. With an average life expectancy below 64, the nation is ranked 177th out of 189 in the 2019 Human Development Index.
Over five years of conflict have left thousands of civilians dead and 3.65 million internally displaced. Its impact on the country’s infrastructure has been devastating, with major overland routes and airports severely damaged.
Despite ongoing humanitarian assistance, 16.2 million Yemenis are food insecure.
What the World Food Programme is doing in Yemen
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In-kind food assistance
WFP provides 13 million people with food assistance through direct food distributions or vouchers that people can use at retailers in areas where the markets are functioning. Each family of six gets a monthly ration of wheat flour, pulses, vegetable oil, sugar and salt.
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Cash assistance
WFP is expanding cash assistance in areas of Yemen where markets are stable enough to provide for communities’ basic food needs. To support this programme WFP is registering beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through this system, people will receive cash transfers equivalent to US$12 per person per month, which will inject much-needed liquidity into the economy.
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Nutrition assistance
In response to high acute, moderate and severe malnutrition rates among children, WFP is providing nutritional support to 1.1 million pregnant and nursing women and children under 5.
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Assistance to refugees
WFP is currently providing food assistance to 8,500 refugees from the Horn of Africa in Kharaz camp in Lahj governorate.
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School feeding
WFP provides daily nutritious snacks – either date bars or high energy biscuits – to 950,000 school children. The programme focuses on areas that have been hard hit by conflict, leading to low levels of school attendance and poor food security.
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Logistics
The WFP-managed UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between five key hubs in Yemen and the region. In addition, the Logistics Cluster facilitates regular sea and air transport for humanitarian cargo between Aden, Hodeidah, Sana’a and Djibouti.
In focus
Yemen news releases
Go to pagePartners and donors
Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in Yemen is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:Find out more about the state of food security in Yemen
Visit the food security analysis pageContacts
Sana'a
Diplomatic Area, Nowakshot Street, House No. 22 P.O. Box 7181 Sana'a - Republic of Yemen
Phone: +967 1 214 100
Fax: +967 1 205 515