millions of people at risk of hunger due to lack of funds

The UN body announced a reduction in aid. Global inflation and the effects of the war in Ukraine are some of the causes. There are only enough resources for 1.8 million people. International donors have guaranteed only a quarter of the two billion euros required to cover the needs. Wheat reserves run out in mid-July.

Sana’a () – The World Food Program (WFP) has announced a further reduction in aid to the population of Yemen, a country marked by years of war, violence and a devastating economic crisis, with millions of people at risk of hunger. . The UN agency, which provides food assistance and is the largest and most structured humanitarian organization in the world, has announced the cut due to lack of funds, global inflation and the repercussions of the conflict in Ukraine.

Every month WFP provides food and food aid to some 13 million people – out of a total population of 30 million – in Yemen, a country whose economy has been destroyed by seven years of conflict and is forced to import most of food raw materials because they do not have sufficient resources and reserves to cover their needs.

In a note released yesterday, the WFP states that it is forced to “cut” aid even more, providing “less than 50% of the daily requirements” for a total of five million people; for another eight million people, the contribution will be less than “25% of daily needs”. “Resilience and grant activities, school feeding and nutrition programs -continues the statement of the UN agency- will be completely suspended for four million people, maintaining the availability of assistance only for 1.8 million people” .

Since January, the WFP has cut aid for eight million people and last month announced a further adjustment after raising from international donor countries only a quarter of the two billion euros roughly needed to sustain aid programmes. to the Gulf country. The funding shortfall will push some seven million people to the brink of famine in the second half of 2022, up from five million today.

Disruptions in global grain supplies related to the war in Ukraine and the Indian government’s grain export ban could further exacerbate Yemen’s food crisis, driving up inflation figures that have already doubled in just two years. The planning minister of the government backed by Saudi Arabia (and the international community) has warned that grain stocks could run out by mid-July. That is why he asked the West – from the United States to the European Union – to contribute to the opening of new markets that would allow it to replace Russian and Ukrainian wheat. Asked by Reuters, the vice president of the Abu Baker Baobaid Chamber of Commerce and Industry added that local businessmen have great difficulties importing flour, rice, sugar and oil derivatives due to high prices and market difficulties.