Nearly half of the population in Government-controlled areas of Yemen face acute food insecurity as humanitarian support sharply declines

ADEN – Nearly half of the population (47 percent) in Government-controlled areas of Yemen are facing high levels of acute food insecurity, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis. 

The analysis shows that around 5 million people are currently experiencing Crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+), including 1.4 million people in Emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4). The outlook is expected to worsen as the year progresses. 

During the June-September 2026 lean season, an estimated 5.4 million people (51 percent of the population in government-controlled areas) are projected to face acute food insecurity. The number of people in Emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4) is expected to rise to 1.5 million during this period. 

Even the post-harvest period from October to December 2026 is unlikely to bring meaningful recovery. The number of people in Emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4) is expected to further increase to 1.8 million, underscoring the severity and persistence of the crisis.

Persistently weak purchasing power, continued macro-economic deterioration, high agriculture input costs and a sharp decline in humanitarian assistance, as per current levels of confirmed funding, are expected to drive high levels of food insecurity through the end of the year.

“The latest IPC findings send a stark warning. Families are being pushed beyond their coping capacity by the combined effects of economic collapse emanating from conflict and civil unrest, climate shocks, disrupted livelihoods and declining humanitarian support,” FAO, WFP and UNICEF said in a joint statement.

Households remain highly dependent on markets at a time when purchasing power continues to erode. Irregular salaries, high food and fuel prices, reduced income opportunities and constraints on agricultural production are limiting families’ ability to meet even basic food needs. At the same time, humanitarian food assistance and humanitarian interventions in the areas of nutrition, health, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are expected to decline sharply because of critical funding shortfalls, leaving millions without support as needs rise. 

Food insecurity remains a major driver of Yemen’s high malnutrition burden. Women and children, internally displaced people, and marginalized communities are among those most at risk. Reduced dietary diversity, poor household food consumption, limited access to essential preventive nutrition services, and worsening living conditions are increasing the risk of acute malnutrition, particularly among pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children. 

Displaced households continue to face severe food consumption gaps and are increasingly relying on negative coping strategies. Marginalized families with limited access to livelihoods and basic services are experiencing deepening hunger and vulnerability. Agriculture and livestock production—critical lifelines for rural families and local food systems—remain under severe pressure from high input costs, climate shocks, pest outbreaks, flood risks and disrupted trade and supply chains. 

Around 60 percent of Yemeni households rely at least partially on agriculture for their livelihoods, yet growing numbers need emergency agricultural assistance to sustain production, protect assets and prevent further deterioration. 

FAO, WFP, and UNICEF are calling on the international community to urgently scale up funding for humanitarian food assistance, nutrition services, health, agriculture and resilience programming. Without immediate, sustained and scaled-up action, millions of vulnerable people risk falling deeper into hunger, malnutrition and irreversible livelihood loss.

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About FAO: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With over 194 members, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @FAOYemen

About WFP: The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

 Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @WFPYemen

About UNICEF: UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

For more information about UNICEF Yemen and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org/yemen