UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher warned on Monday that Yemen is nearing famine, as humanitarian needs grow rapidly and hunger levels rise, while renewed fighting has displaced tens of thousands of people since the beginning of September.
Fletcher expressed deep concern over conditions in the country, saying in a television interview that humanitarian needs were increasing rapidly. He added: “We fear that hunger levels will rise,” before warning: “We are nearing famine in Yemen.” The warnings came as fighting escalated from last July between the Houthis and Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Houthi forces advance along the Red Sea coast
More than a week ago, Houthi forces advanced along the Red Sea coast and seized the key coastal city of Mokha, as well as islands in the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. Yemeni forces, meanwhile, said they would redeploy and stressed that they would continue strikes and clashes against the Houthis on all fronts.
The Yemeni government also warned that the Houthis’ approach to the Bab al-Mandab Strait posed a threat to international shipping, given the waterway’s strategic importance. The renewed clashes have affected the humanitarian situation, with UN estimates indicating that tens of thousands of Yemenis have been displaced since the beginning of September.
More than 2,000 Yemenis have also crossed into Djibouti to escape areas of fighting, while the fuel crisis is preventing more civilians from leaving areas where clashes are taking place, amid UN warnings that hunger and humanitarian needs are worsening.
