Yemen: Increasing risk of famine nationwide November 21 /update 4

Event

On November 21 the US Agency for International Development (USAID) warned of an increasing risk of famine in the country and stated that Yemen could enter "Phase 5" - the highest phase - on the Famine Early Warning Systems Network. According to relief officials, the worsening of the humanitarian situation in Yemen is due to the prolonged closure of the country's ports amid a blockade by the Saudi-led coalition and an ongoing civil war. According to local sources, over 7 million people are in need of emergency food aid throughout the country, with 20 out the country's 27 million people in need of some sort of humanitarian assistance.

The heads of three UN agencies - World Health Organization (WHO), World Food Programme (WFP), and UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) - also issued a statement on November 16 calling the ongoing Yemen crisis the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world," and calling for the Saudi-led coalition to reopen all of Yemen's ports to allow humanitarian aid to enter the country.

The war has also sparked a cholera outbreak, which is estimated to have affected over 925,000 people to date. Additionally, Yemen has witnessed a resurgence of diphtheria, with more than 100 cases reported in the country since the beginning of November 2017, at least 11 of which were fatal. 

Context

Yemen has been engaged in a complex and deadly conflict since Houthi rebels started fighting the international coalition-backed government in 2015. In total, approximately 10,000 Yemenis have died in the fighting and over 3 million have been displaced, with much of the country's critical infrastructure damaged or in ruins.

Advice

Individuals are advised to defer all travel to Yemen until further notice. Those in Yemen are advised to stock up on food and bottled water, and conserve water as much as possible. The security environment throughout the country remains complex, and due to poor security conditions, many Western governments strongly advise their citizens against all travel to Yemen. Travel to the country should only be considered with proper security protocols in place, and professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.