SANA'A — A recent report by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has revealed a dramatic surge in food poverty across Houthi-controlled regions of Yemen, marking one of the highest recorded levels of deprivation since the conflict began.

According to the WFP’s latest food security update, severe food deprivation has reached 79% in areas under Houthi control, with four governorates now classified as facing “critical” levels of malnutrition. The report warns that millions are at risk of famine, with families increasingly unable to afford basic staples amid economic collapse and restricted humanitarian access.

The alarming figures come as Yemen continues to grapple with one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. More than 17 million people across the country are food insecure, and 4.8 million remain internally displaced, many living in camps with limited access to aid.

WFP officials attribute the spike in food poverty to a combination of factors, including rising inflation, disrupted supply chains, and shrinking donor funding. In Houthi-held territories, restrictions on aid operations and politicization of humanitarian assistance have further exacerbated the crisis.

Despite a brief truce in 2022 that allowed for some relief, the situation has deteriorated rapidly in recent months. The WFP has called for urgent international support to sustain its operations, warning that without additional funding, millions could face starvation.

Local sources report that vulnerable groups—especially women, children, and the elderly—are bearing the brunt of the crisis. Malnutrition clinics in northern Yemen are overwhelmed, and food distributions have been scaled back due to budget shortfalls.

The report underscores the need for unimpeded humanitarian access and a comprehensive political solution to end the conflict and restore livelihoods. As the humanitarian toll deepens, aid agencies stress that time is running out to prevent a full-scale famine.