Hunger threatens the lives of millions in Yemen

In its eleventh year, war is no longer the only burden weighing on Yemenis. Hunger, which has festered during years of conflict, is now knocking on the doors of millions of families.

Displacement camps, sheltering more than four million internally displaced people, appear to be the most vulnerable in the face of a famine that is expanding daily.

The United Nations has warned of a worsening hunger crisis in Yemen, confirming that millions of Yemenis are facing severe food insecurity, with food emergency levels recorded amidst declining humanitarian funding and the ongoing repercussions of war and climate change.

A recent report by the World Food Programme (WFP) revealed that more than two-thirds of internally displaced people (IDPs) in Yemen faced alarming levels of hunger by the end of 2025, amid a sharp deterioration in food security.

The report explained that 38% of IDPs suffered from moderate to severe hunger last December, compared to 21% among the non-displaced population, making them among the most vulnerable groups, especially those living in camps.

The report indicated that severe food insecurity reached 40% among IDPs nationwide, rising to 48% within camps, compared to 38% among IDPs in host communities. Furthermore, 17% of families reported that one of their members went a full day and night without food, compared to 7% among the general population.

The report also noted that 46% of IDP families adopted harsh coping strategies such as reducing the number of meals, while 7% were forced to beg to meet their basic needs, with this figure rising to 13% in camps. The program warned that continued economic deterioration and declining humanitarian funding could push more displaced families into more dangerous levels of hunger and food insecurity in the coming period.