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Yemen: Conflict, high food prices, depreciation of local currency and disrupted livelihoods are the major drivers of acute food insecurity

Overview

From October to December 2020, 13.5 million people (45% of the analysed population) are facing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above), despite ongoing humanitarian food assistance (HFA). This includes 9.8 million people (33%) in Crisis (IPC Phase 3), 3.6 million (12%) in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and of greatest concern, approximately 16,500 people in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5). Between January and June 2021, the number increases by nearly 3 million to 16.2 million people (54% of the total population analysed) likely to experience high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above). Out of these, an estimated 11 million people will likely be in Crisis (IPC Phase 3), 5 million in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and the number of those in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5), will likely increase to 47,000. Food insecurity is more severe in areas with active fighting or bordering areas with limited access, and is particularly affecting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and marginalized groups. The caseload in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) is mainly found in Al Jawf, Hajjah and Amran. In Al Jawf and Hajjah, conflict, displacement and limited humanitarian access are the main drivers. While in Amran, highly vulnerable marginalized groups such as landless wage labourers and lack of access to public services such as water, sanitation and health are the primary causes. Download the snapshot here.

Actions Needed

  • De-escalation of Violence and Ceasefire: Urgent cessation of conflict to protect lives and livelihoods, immediate lifting of the ports blockade and restrictions to expedite the movement of goods and easeprices, and unrestricted humanitarian access to reach the most vulnerable households, including marginalized persons.
  • Life-saving Humanitarian Assistance: Urgent funding of humanitarian assistance is required to scale-up of assistance to save lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable Yemenis in need.
  • Injection of Foreign Currency Reserves: To stabilise the exchange rate and bolster liquidity within the economy, an injection of foreign currency reserves is swiftly required. Famine was prevented two years ago when member states and donors provided urgently-needed resources, and we can do it again.
  • Livelihood Diversification: Scale up of livelihood diversification programmes for the populations in need of assistance to increase their already eroded resilience and stop them from slipping into worse conditions

Population in IPC Phases

 

 

IPC Classification Map

October - December 2020
January - June 2021

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