Sana’a – Fuel and food imports to ports under Houthi control have declined by 22% since the beginning of 2025, according to recent assessments by humanitarian and economic monitoring groups. The sharp drop is raising concerns over worsening shortages in northern Yemen, where millions already face acute food insecurity and limited access to essential services.

The decline has been attributed to a combination of factors, including infrastructure damage from recent airstrikes, tighter import restrictions, and currency volatility. The ports of Hudaydah, Al-Salif, and Ras Issa—key entry points for commercial and humanitarian cargo—have suffered over $1.3 billion in direct and indirect losses this year, severely disrupting unloading operations and fuel distribution.

Data from the World Food Programme and other agencies indicate that while overall food imports to Yemen fell by 4% between January and July 2025, the reduction was disproportionately concentrated in Houthi-held areas. Fuel shipments through Red Sea ports in June and July reached their lowest levels in three years, threatening critical sectors such as milling, transport, and healthcare.

Local traders and aid workers warn that the import slump is already driving up prices for wheat flour, cooking gas, and diesel, compounding the humanitarian crisis. “We’re seeing families skip meals and hospitals ration electricity,” said a relief coordinator in Hudaydah. “The situation is deteriorating fast.”

Humanitarian organizations are urging all parties to facilitate access to ports and protect civilian infrastructure, warning that continued disruptions could push vulnerable communities into famine-like conditions.