World Food Programme scales up response in Yemen as fighting displaces thousands

In a matter of days, an estimated 125,000 people have been displaced. Many are struggling to safely access food and other basic services, and have started to head towards Aden, Al Maafer and other areas. Displacement is expected to rise as frontlines move.

“Every day the conflict spreads, more families are forced to leave their homes, markets are disrupted, and people’s ability to access food becomes severely restricted,” said El-Khidir Daloum, WFP Representative and Country Director in Yemen. “The time to act is now. We must be prepared to respond at scale before this emergency worsens.”

While responding to this latest crisis, WFP continues to provide food and nutrition assistance to around 1.7 million people in Government of Yemen areas already facing food insecurity. However, the agency warns that without new funding, it may be forced to delay assistance to newly displaced families or divert already scarce resources away from communities already facing some of the highest levels of hunger.

WFP calls on all parties to protect humanitarian personnel, offices and assets, and to allow safe and sustained access to people who urgently need assistance. Since September 9th, clashes in the city of Al Mokha have affected WFP’s programmes, offices and facilities. WFP premises were breached, and at least 49 food distribution points made inaccessible.

Families fleeing the violence have also begun crossing into Djibouti. More than 2,400 people arrived in just a few days, and more are expected. WFP is supporting the Government-led response with food, drinking water and logistics services. WFP is also expanding warehouse capacity and helping move supplies to Markazi refugee village.

The escalation in the Yemen conflict comes as hunger is already worsening across the country. More than 18 million people, roughly half the population, face acute food insecurity. Some 2.2 million children under five are acutely malnourished, including half a million experiencing severe acute malnutrition, its most life-threatening form.

The country imports around 90 percent of its food, leaving families highly exposed to interruptions in trade, supply chains and markets. This means that further instability along the west coast and around the Bab al-Mandab corridor could have serious consequences for Yemen and the wider region.

“Humanitarian access and the safety and security of humanitarian staff are paramount and must be protected,” said El-Khidir Daloum. “Without safe access to affected communities and timely, flexible funding, we risk being unable to reach families at this decisive moment.”

WFP requires USD 274 million to sustain emergency food assistance, nutrition programmes, school meals, resilience activities and critical humanitarian logistics services through 2027.

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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 weather extremes.

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