Fighting in Yemen has pushed hunger to a record level, with 74% of households in accessible government-held areas unable to meet basic food needs after more than 149,000 people were displaced.
The escalation between government forces and Houthi rebels has disrupted markets, blocked aid routes and driven families toward crowded displacement sites. Many newly displaced people have reportedly arrived near Aden, Taiz and Lahj after fleeing with little or no food or water. WFP officials said the latest figures represent the highest level of food insecurity recorded in those areas this year.
Yemen’s broader crisis is also worsening, with 18.3 million people facing acute food insecurity and 2.2 million children under five suffering acute malnutrition. Rising prices are adding to the pressure: wheat flour costs have increased by 10% in parts of Taiz in two weeks, while traders say supplies may last only about two months. Yemen imports roughly 90% of its food, making it vulnerable to fighting and disruptions around key shipping routes.
WFP has assisted more than 70,000 people in Taiz and Lahj and is preparing to expand aid to as many as 1.5 million people. However, the agency says it needs $109 million soon to prevent assistance gaps for displaced families and others already receiving support.