WFP Executive Director Appeals for Peace from Frontline of Conflict in Yemen (For the Media)

WFP is already providing food assistance to 7 – 8 million of those most in need, every month, but the situation has now got so dire that WFP is preparing to scale up.  WFP Food and other humanitarian support has been instrumental in helping to prevent famine, but the indications are that even greater efforts will be needed to avert mass starvation. 

The port of Hodeidah receives about 70 percent of imports into the country which depends on imports for nearly all its commercial food requirements. It is also vital to keep open the supply routes out of the city so that north and central Yemen can be provisioned with food and other vital supplies. 

WFP’s current target of providing food assistance to 8 million people is budgeted at US$125 million per month. As the food security situation deteriorates and WFP prepares to scale up its food and nutrition programmes, it is clear our funding requirements are set to increase accordingly.