United Nations: Food prices have risen 60% in Yemen

English - Wednesday 13 October 2021 الساعة 03:42 pm
Aden, NewsYemen:

The United Nations has warned that food insecurity in Yemen as the economy shrinks has led to the continued depreciation of the Yemeni riyal and food price hikes of nearly 60 percent in some parts of the country, exacerbating hunger, with some 16.2 million people already facing food insecurity this year.  

In its Humanitarian Situation Update, the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs noted that since the beginning of the year, food insecurity has worsened, driven by the collapse of the Yemeni riyal price and already insufficient food consumption, a measure of hunger tracked by the World Food Program, in areas under the control of the internationally recognized government , where food is becoming more and more expensive.

The report indicated that the value of the Yemeni riyal decreased by nearly 40 percent against the US dollar in the first eight months of this year, exceeding 1,000 Yemeni riyals per US dollar for the first time, and that starting from the end of last September, the dollar exceeded 1,200 riyals in the southern regions of the country, which made it difficult for ordinary people in Yemen to afford basic food.

The report indicated that, after more than seven years of conflict, the displacement of more than four million people, and the impact of the covid pandemic, in addition to the high transportation costs resulting from high fuel costs, and the effects of the global increase in food prices in a country where there are about 90% of the  percent of food and other basic commodities are imported. The cost of the minimum local food basket in Yemen - an indicator of the cost of living - reached more than 62,000 Yemeni riyals in August 2021, which is about 36 percent higher than it was at the beginning of this year,  It is also four times the cost in January 2015.

According to the UN update, at least one-fifth of the population suffers from more serious poor food consumption in Al-Dhalea, Al-Jawf, Amran, Lahj and Rayma, during the third quarter of this year, while it is expected that the level of food security in Al-Jawf Governorate will be modified from a state of high risk to a state of alert, and that it is expected  That four governorates deteriorate from a state of minimum risk to a state of alert, namely (Al-Bayda, Hadramout, Al-Mahra and Socotra).

In some places, the report said, the situation has worsened to the point that some families have resorted to eating leaves to quench their hunger, as the World Food Program recently explained.

According to the United Nations, food security partners have been able to increase their life-saving assistance in Yemen thanks to $1.2 billion in donors contributed this year, although another $797 million is needed.