Hunger as a weapon: Yemen suffers from a forgotten tragedy

Hunger as a weapon: Yemen suffers from a forgotten tragedy

In Yemen, hunger is not only used as a devastating consequence of years of civil war, but increasingly as a targeted weapon. The Houthi rebels, who control large parts of the country and are supported by Iran, are blocking aid deliveries and putting pressure on the civilian population to achieve their political goals. As jungle.world reports, 20 million people, including hundreds of thousands of children, are currently at acute risk of hunger.

The humanitarian situation in the country is shocking. Between 2014 and 2018, an estimated 85,000 children under five died from severe malnutrition while unable to receive medical attention. Médecins Sans Frontières is currently treating countless malnourished children in the facilities they support. From January 2022 to December 2024, there were 35,442 in five governorates. This is all happening in a country where there is a massive water crisis and more than 90 percent of water is used in agriculture. The war damage to water infrastructure makes access to clean water a challenge.

The humanitarian crisis and access to aid

Aid organizations working in Yemen face growing difficulties. The Houthis confiscate aid supplies and use them as leverage, which makes the work of organizations such as the World Food Program (WFP) much more difficult. This organization aims to combat famine and provides essential support, both through logistical work and direct food deliveries. However, the financing of the aid program for 2025 is alarming, as only ten percent of the required budget has currently been secured. WFP emphasizes that the situation in Yemen remains dramatic and requires urgent action.

The Houthis have also made strategic announcements to potentially stop attacks on international shipping if certain geopolitical conditions are met. However, long-time observers of the conflict are skeptical about the credibility of such confessions. In the background, the Houthis' military relevance remains high, while at the same time they try to position themselves as defenders of Yemeni and Palestinian interests. Welthungerhilfe emphasizes that the dynamics of the conflict are strongly influenced by the situation in the Red Sea.

A piece of hope or a false peace?

Despite a ceasefire in April 2022 that briefly eased tensions and improved access for aid organizations, fighting broke out again in late 2023. The latest UNICEF report shows that cases of severe malnutrition among children in government areas located on Houthi front lines have increased by 34 percent since 2023. Over 600,000 children are affected, many suffer from acute malnutrition, and pregnant and breastfeeding women are also at risk.

The worsening economic situation has made access to food and medical care even more difficult. Those who suffer are the people fighting for survival in this forgotten conflict in which hunger and water scarcity are used as political weapons.