The threat of famine continues in Yemen, as the embattled nation remains in the grip of civil war.
On Friday (28 September), the head of the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) declared that it remains the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Executive Director David Beasley told reporters in New York there ‘very well could be’ famine in remote areas of Yemen, which the WFP doesn’t have access to.
Fighting around Hodeidah port has had a big impact on the importing of food and medical supplies, according to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET).
Across the nation, 22.2 million Yemenis are in need of humanitarian aid, and 8.4 million are at risk of starvation. It’s a number that’s expected to rise to 18 million this year if conditions don’t improve.
Last month the United Nations tried to negotiate a ceasefire, but planned talks never took place.
Cholera continues
In 2017, Yemen saw the biggest cholera outbreak on record, with over one million cases reported.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 30% of all suspected cholera cases across Yemen are children under five years of age.
Severely malnourished children are far more likely to contract and die from diarrhoeal diseases like cholera than well-nourished children.