Why is Yemen’s food crisis off the world’s humanitarian radar?
Yemen’s continued economic and political turmoil has been exacerbated by an escalating food crisis. According to the World Food Programme, hunger in Yemen has doubled over the past two years. In May, aid agencies warned that almost half the country’s population of 25 million do not have enough food to eat and a third of children in some areas are severely malnourished.
Nearly half the population of Yemen lives on less than $2 a day, and poverty is forcing many Yemenis to buy food – which is readily available to those who can afford it – on credit, creating a growing debt problem. The UN – which estimates that 267,000 children face life-threatening levels of malnutrition – has increased the total sought for its humanitarian appeal from $447m to $586m.
