Two million Yemenis are on the brink of famine, with a UN report revealing that half the population is in a “crisis phase” or worse, as the hunger crisis engulfs millions of families.

Five million people in areas under the Yemeni government are currently in the “crisis” phase or worse, according to a shocking new report on food security levels. This number represents one out of every two people in those areas, where ongoing economic decline and reduced aid have left millions unable to meet their basic food needs.

The report shows that about 1.4 million Yemenis have entered the fourth phase, known as the “emergency” phase, widening food consumption gaps and pushing families to adopt harsh coping strategies such as selling property or begging to survive. The report noted that “without the limited humanitarian aid provided to about 1.7 million people during the past period, food insecurity levels would have been even worse.”

The population covered by the analysis reached 10.5 million people, with 47 percent of them suffering from “phase three or higher” according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. Despite the severity of the crisis, the report recorded a slight seasonal improvement in food availability compared to the previous period, when the population in the fourth phase reached about 1.6 million. This limited improvement is due to increased local agricultural production, expanded aid, and community support through zakat, but it remains insufficient.

About 60 percent of Yemeni families rely on agriculture as a main source of livelihood, while local production covers only between 25 and 30 percent of national needs, making Yemen vulnerable to global price fluctuations and supply chain disruptions. The report classified all 12 Yemeni governorates under government control as phase three or higher.

Warnings of rapid deterioration

• The warning was issued that any further escalation in the conflict or reduction in humanitarian funding would widen food gaps and accelerate the population’s resort to more fragile coping mechanisms.
• The report expects a rapid deterioration during the dry season from June to September, with the population in phase three or higher rising to 5.4 million people (51% of the analyzed population), including 1.6 million in phase four.
• These figures represent an increase of about 400,000 people compared to the same period last year.
• It warns that severe funding shortages will reduce food security programs to cover only about 1.2 million people, with one-third of the standard food ration.

The worsening food situation will exacerbate the crisis during the last quarter of this year, with the number of people classified as in “emergency” expected to rise to about 1.8 million. This deterioration reflects the population’s heavy reliance on external aid to secure minimum food, along with the fragility of livelihoods and the local economy.